SPEAK WITH WISDOM

Passage: Proverbs 15:1-17

Key verse: 2

NIV

15 A gentle answer(A) turns away wrath,(B)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(C)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(D)

3 The eyes(E) of the Lord are everywhere,(F)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.(G)

4 The soothing tongue(H) is a tree of life,(I)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(J)

5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline,
    but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.(K)

6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,(L)
    but the income of the wicked brings ruin.(M)

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(N)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

8 The Lord detests the sacrifice(O) of the wicked,(P)
    but the prayer of the upright pleases him.(Q)

9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked,(R)
    but he loves those who pursue righteousness.(S)

10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
    the one who hates correction will die.(T)

11 Death and Destruction[a] lie open before the Lord(U)—
    how much more do human hearts!(V)

12 Mockers resent correction,(W)
    so they avoid the wise.

13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,(X)
    but heartache crushes the spirit.(Y)

14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,(Z)
    but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
    but the cheerful heart has a continual feast.(AA)

16 Better a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great wealth with turmoil.(AB)

17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
    than a fattened calf with hatred.(AC)

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 15:11 Hebrew Abaddon
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

15 (A)A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but (B)a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but (C)the mouths of fools pour out folly.
3 (D)The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 (E)A gentle[a] tongue is (F)a tree of life,
    but (G)perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 (H)A fool (I)despises his father's instruction,
    but (J)whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
    but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 (K)The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
    (L)not so the hearts of fools.[b]
8 (M)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but (N)the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
    but he loves him (O)who pursues righteousness.
10 There is (P)severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
    (Q)whoever hates reproof will die.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
    how much more (R)the hearts of the children of man!
12 (S)A scoffer (T)does not like to be reproved;
    he will not go to the wise.
13 (U)A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
    but by (V)sorrow of heart the spirit is (W)crushed.
14 (X)The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
    but (Y)the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.
16 (Z)Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
    than great treasure and trouble with it.
17 (AA)Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
    than (AB)a fattened ox and hatred with it.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 15:4 Or healing
  2. Proverbs 15:7 Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Our words can have a powerful effect on others, for better or for worse. Words spoken gently can turn away wrath, but one harsh word can stir up anger (1). Therefore, the author of Proverbs encourages us to shape our words with wisdom. A wise person’s speech makes seeking knowledge and wisdom attractive to others (2a). Wisdom directs a person to speak soothing words which can be a tree of life to a suffering person (4a).

In contrast, fools pour out folly with their words (2b) and even feed on that folly (14b). Their perverse words can crush a person (4b). In fact, the New Testament compares the tongue to a destructive fire to emphasize its potential for evil (Ja 3:6). Are your words full of wisdom that bring life to others - or do your words tear others down?

What we say comes from our hearts (Mt 15:18). The heart of a fool is not upright. But the heart of the wise is discerning (14a). A heart that is wise is a heart that fears the LORD and knows that love is better than wealth (16,17). Let us pray for a heart that is wise so that the words we speak may be full of Godly wisdom and life.

Prayer: Father, please forgive my sins of speaking foolishness and hurting others with my words. Change my heart so that I may speak wisdom.

One Word: A wise tongue