Wise Sayings Part 1

Written by Suzanne Benner

Has someone betrayed a confidence and gossiped about you? This study will help you.

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit (Proverbs 18:21, NIV).

The book of Proverbs is full of memorable statements that comment on many aspects of life. While we must remember that it is Hebrew poetry, full of figures of speech, it provides guidelines for living well. We can learn much by considering its wise sayings.

Life Lesson: Biblical perspective on the end times
Experience It: Walk in the power of the Holy Spirit

Rather than look at one verse at a time, I’ve found it helpful to underline all the verses in Proverbs that speak to a particular topic and then review them as a whole. A color coded wealth of wisdom has emerged.

In my Bible all the verses that talk about the tongue are underlined in red. There are a lot! I found 95 verses mentioning the way we talk or how we use our lips, mouth and tongue.

Much harm can result from careless use of our tongues:

•    a chattering fool comes to ruin (10:8)
•    when words are many sin is not absent (10:19)
•    a gossip betrays a confidence (11:13)
•    reckless words pierce like a sword (12:18)
•    he who speaks rashly will come to ruin (13:3)
•    he who loves a quarrel loves sin (17:19)
•    he who answers before listening – that is his folly and his shame (18:13)

Fortunately, we can also use our mouths to do good:

•    the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life (10:11)
•    righteous lips nourish many (10:21)
•    the lips of the righteous know what is fitting (10:32)
•    the speech of upright rescues him (12:6)
•    the tongue of the wise brings healing (12:18)
•    he who guards his lips guards his soul (13:3)
•    a gentle answer turns away wrath (15:1)

There is great power in the way we use our words. With God’s help we can choose to do good rather than evil.

Heavenly Father, forgive me for my careless words and for when I talk too much. Give me the wisdom I need to bring healing and life through my speech. Amen.

Questions: Which of the negative uses of the tongue is most convicting for you? How has someone used their speech in a way that brought healing to you?

About the Author Suzanne Benner

Tags: Bible, Chat, gossip, guidelines, Hebrew, Suzanne Benner, wise sayings

6 Responses to “Wise Sayings Part 1”

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Trisha says:

May 10, 2010 at 8:21 pm

i had to lift my hands up as i prayed the prayer to the Father on this devo! When i get angry i say the most terrible things. i can’t even believe what comes out of my mouth. i need so much help with this b/c i slander those i really love b/c i’m so upset with them esp when other’s think the person is SO great when i know FIRST HAND they aren’t! it’s like i make it my job to set it right by telling their faults. My mouth is like a sword and can cut to the depth. i really needed to read this! Thank you~
Em says:

May 8, 2010 at 11:05 pm

Thanks, wow I’m blessed to be here. I’m a newer teacher, in NYC, and I have been struggling with working at my low-income school… the teachers are sometimes vicious in their words, gossip & quick to ‘spread the news.’ Unfortunately, my own sisters in my immediate family (who are supposed to be Christian) are sometimes no different. I had just faced a little attack just now, & sort of turned here in desperation (after praying, of course), right before Mother’s Day. I needed encouragement. I am the youngest of 3 sisters, and although we are adults, my sisters have always had a sort of strange resentment towards me, for being the youngest perhaps (?) I don’t know what their issues are, exactly, but they often talk & leave me out (sometimes talking about me). I’m sorry, I just needed to share this, because this is exactly what I just went through – and it is true – how much words can hurt, or heal. I really need God’s touch & healing in this area – from many, many words that have been used to hurt me. If you can, pls lift up a prayer of encouragement over me, that I wouldn’t give-up. I pray God’s WORD prevails over our lives, in truth, peace, wisdom. Hallelujah, and God bless you!
Cathy says:

May 5, 2010 at 11:12 am

I am also a teacher, and it is amazing how uplifting words really encourage my students. Once in a while, the truth is important as well. Not only are our out loud words important to watch. Sometimes I find the words I use in my head or tell myself or think about does me more harm than good. When I find myself thinking negatively, I immediately lift those thoughts up to the LORD and than think more about positve thoughts.
Margaret says:

May 5, 2010 at 9:10 am

I am a teacher and I use words because words are the stock of our trade. I realise how a child can shrink almost visibly with a harsh comment and how they actually grow in stature and confidence with a word of encouragement. S I really appreciate today’s devotional. Thank you
Valerie says:

May 5, 2010 at 8:37 am

I am a school teacher. I had a parents meeting the other day to discuss the medical condition of one of my students. The mother of the student turned her concern to a personal verbal attack on me. It greatly affected me and I broke down in the meeting. Later when asked by a collegue what had happened, my words were no different than hers had been. This was a very humbling and convicting to realize how easy it is to fall into the trap of the enemy.
Robin says:

May 5, 2010 at 8:29 am

This is such an important word for me today. God is truly working, and always HAS been on my words and what I say. Thank you for sharing this. I do believe I will make a study as you have mentioned, a color coded one on lips and the use and power of words.