The Tongue

12/29/2012

When reading Proverbs lately, it was striking how many truths dealt with our words. Clearly it is a high priority topic for Father. He even says that death and life are in the power of the tongue! The teachings of Jesus and the apostles are in complete agreement. So attached are some tools for recalibrating our own priorities. The first gives all of the Proverbs dealing with the tongue. Someone also made posters to go along with two of the topics: the sin of talkativeness, and the importance of gracious speech. Can we all read, pray, apply, and where needful, turn away from flesh and to Father (repent)? How wonderful it is to know how to please Father! :)

xoxox, Dan

The Tongue: Will it Be Life or Death?

Flattery, Faithlessness, Folly, and Divisiveness

11:11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,

but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

17:20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,

and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.

18:6 A fool’s lips bring strife,

and a fool’s mouth invites a flogging.

18:7 The mouths of fools are their ruin,

and their lips a snare to themselves.

22:12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,

but he overthrows the words of the faithless

26:28 A lying tongue hates its victims,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

29:5 Whoever flatters a neighbor

is spreading a net for the neighbor’s feet.

Gossip and Slander

10:18 Lying lips conceal hatred,

and whoever utters slander is a fool.

11:13 A gossip goes about telling secrets,

but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.

11:9 With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

11:12 Whoever belittles another lacks sense,

but an intelligent person remains silent.

12:6 The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,

but the speech of the upright delivers them

16:27 Scoundrels concoct evil,

and their speech is like a scorching fire.

16:28 A perverse person spreads strife,

and a whisperer separates close friends.

17:4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips;

and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.

18:8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

20:19 A gossip reveals secrets;

therefore do not associate with a babbler.

25:23 The north wind produces rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks

26:2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

an undeserved curse goes nowhere.

26:22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Talkativeness

10:19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but the prudent are restrained in speech.

12:23 One who is clever conceals knowledge,

but the mind of a fool broadcasts folly.

13:3 Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;

those who open wide their lips come to ruin.

17:27 One who spares words is knowledgeable;

one who is cool in spirit has understanding.

17:28 Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;

when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.

18:13 If one gives answer before hearing,

it is folly and shame.

21:23 To watch over mouth and tongue

is to keep out of trouble.

29:20 Do you see someone who is hasty in speech?

There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.

Gracious Speech

12:18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

12:25 Anxiety weighs down the human heart,

but a good word cheers it up.

15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

15:4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,

but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

15:23 To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone,

and a word in season, how good it is!

15:26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,

but gracious words are pure.

16:21 The wise of heart is called perceptive,

and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.

16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

25:11 A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

25:15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue can break bones.

Righteous Speech

10:11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

10:20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;

the mind of the wicked is of little worth.

10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.

10:31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

12:13 The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,

but the righteous escape from trouble.

15:28 The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,

but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.

31:8 Speak out for those who cannot speak,

for the rights of all the destitute.

31:9 Speak out, judge righteously,

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Wise Speech

10:13 On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,

but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.

10:14 The wise lay up knowledge,

but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.

14:3 The talk of fools is a rod for their backs,

but the lips of the wise preserve them.

15:2 The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge,

but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so the minds of fools.

16:23 The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious,

and adds persuasiveness to their lips.

18:4 The words of the mouth are deep waters;

the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.

20:15 There is gold, and abundance of costly stones;

but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.

Fruit of Our Word

12:14 From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,

and manual labor has its reward.

13:2 From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things,

but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.

18:20 From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is satisfied;

the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.

18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love it will eat its fruits.

A Few Words About Many Words

When Words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but the prudent are restrained in speech (Proverbs 10:19).

One who is clever conceals knowledge,

but the mind of a fool broadcasts folly (Proverbs 12:23).

Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;

those who open wide their lips come to ruin (Proverbs 13:3).

Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;

when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent (Proverbs 17:28).

To watch over mouth and tongue

is to keep out of trouble (Proverbs 21:23).

Do you see someone who is hasty in speech?

There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that (Proverbs 29:20).

One who spares words is knowledgeable;

one who is cool in spirit has understanding (Proverbs 17:27).

If one gives answer before hearing,

it is folly and shame (Proverbs 18:13).

Never be rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be quick to utter a

word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore

let your words be few. For dreams come with many cares, and a fool’s

voice with many words (Ecclesiastes 5:2-3).

Words spoken by the wise bring them favor,

but the lips of fools consume them.

The words of their mouths begin in foolishness,

and their talk ends in wicked madness;

yet fools talk on and on (Ecclesiastes 10:12-14).

I tell you, on the day of judgement you will have to give an account for

every careless word you utter; for by your words you will be justified,

and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:35-37).

"That Your Words May Give Grace"

A gentle tongue is a tree of life

but perverseness in it breaks the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).

The wise of heart is called perceptive,

and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness (Proverbs 16:21).

Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,

but gracious words are pure (Proverbs 15:26).

Anxiety weighs down the human heart,

but a good word cheers it up (Proverbs 12:25).

With patience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue can break bones (Proverbs 25:15).

Rash words are like sword thrusts,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18).

A soft answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body (Proverbs 16:24).

To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone,

and a word in season, how good it is! (Proverbs 25:11).

Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is

useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words

may give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29).

Conduct yourselves wisely towards outsiders, making the most

of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with

salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone (Colossians 4:5-6).