7. The Power of Speech
Speech is one of the most frequently found topics in the book of Proverbs, and a great many verses in the book focus on how what we say can result in good or evil. Why is speech so important in Proverbs? Remember that earlier in this book we saw the value Proverbs places on the fear of God as the basis for wise living, and we also saw how one of the definitions Proverbs gives of godly fear is hatred of evil thoughts, actions, and words (Proverbs 8:13). In this chapter we will look at what Proverbs has to say about the evils of misused speech – characterized as the words of the "unwise" or "fool," and what it says are the words of the wise – words guided by wisdom and godly fear. We will look at a dozen examples of each type of speech. The Words of the Unwise Almost half of the things the book of Proverbs states are "abominations" to God or that God hates (for example, Proverbs 6:16-19) are related to speech. Perhaps not surprisingly, lying is among the most frequently condemned misuse of speech, but in addition to lying and exaggeration, Proverbs also gives a number of other characteristics of unwise speech that we need to avoid. The words of the unwise are said to be: Untrue – The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. (Proverbs 12:22) Hasty – To answer before listening – that is folly and shame. (Proverbs 18:13) Continuous – Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. (Proverbs 10:19) Self-Destructive – A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. (Proverbs 21:6)
Unrestrained –
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. (Proverbs 29:11) Opinionated – Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. (Proverbs 18:2) Gossiping – A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. (Proverbs 16:28) Critical – Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, … one who has understanding holds their tongue. (Proverbs 11:12) Flattering – Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet. (Proverbs 29:5) Slandering – Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. (Proverbs 10:18) Provocative – A violent person entices their neighbor and leads them down a path that is not good. (Proverbs 16:29) Abusive – The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18) Many other aspects of unwise speech can be found in Proverbs, and the book also shows that passive participation in unwise speech can be just as problematic as speaking the words ourselves (Proverbs 17:4; etc.). If we are honest, we may find reflections of ourselves in some of these negative qualities, and that can make study and meditation on what Proverbs tells us about these patterns of behavior all the more worthwhile in terms of self-understanding and growth – as well as in helping us to avoid the results of unwise speech (Proverbs 18:7)! The Words of the Wise Proverbs also gives us many examples of wise speech that we can remind ourselves to cultivate. The book tells us that the words of the wise are: Protective – Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. (Proverbs13:3) Healing – Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Proverbs16:24) Honored – Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right. (Proverbs 16:13) Encouraging – Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. (Proverbs 12:25) Restrained – The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. (Proverbs 17:27) Discreet – The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool's heart blurts out folly. (Proverbs 12:23) Trustworthy – A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. (Proverbs 11:13) Instructive – The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction. (Proverbs 16:23)
Persuasive –
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone. (Proverbs 25:15) Cautious – The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. (Proverbs 15:28) Soothing – The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4) Uplifting – A person finds joy in giving an apt reply – and how good is a timely word! (Proverbs 15:23) So Proverbs shows us that – whether we are looking at our own words and the effects they have on others, or the words of others to which we react – in literally dozens of ways human speech has the potential to either build up or pull down those who hear it. This alone is a good reason to read the book of Proverbs on a regular basis. We can all profit from the reminders Proverbs offers us in the area of speech – as well as the encouragement it gives that "From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things" (Proverbs 12:14).