Remember the children’s song “oh my careful little tongue what you say?” It is an easy phrase to sing but a hard way to live. Careful talking.
Many of the proverbs Solomon wrote directly or even indirectly deal with talking. So, I’ve gone back to the beginning of his proverbs (Proverbs 10 – 29) with the intent to focus on what he teaches on talking.
In Proverbs 10 there are 27 proverbs and at least half of them address talking and the use of your mouth.
🗣️ the mouth of the wicked conceal violence.
🗣️a babbling fool will come to ruin.
🗣️a babbling fool will come to ruin.
🗣️ the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life but the wicked’s conceals violence.
🗣️wisdom is found of the lips of those with understanding.
🗣️ the mouth of the fool brings ruin near.
🗣️ whoever utters slander is a fool.
🗣️ when words are many, transgression is not lacking but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
🗣️the tongue of the righteous is like choice silver.
🗣️ the lips of the righteous feed many.
🗣️ the mouth of the righteous brings wisdom but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
🗣️ the lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
We talk so much every day. We can either use our mouths positively and carefully or we can be a perverse babbler. One feeds many and the other brings ruin. And, ultimately, Solomon tells us that the righteous KNOW what is acceptable while the wicked KNOW what is perverse.
So, if we say we are righteous or at least trying to be then we know how to use our mouths acceptably – the question the. becomes…do we act on that knowledge or ignore it and continue with our babbling?
To know something and not act that knowledge is sinful. So, we must try every day to be careful with our tongues.
Adonai's Appeal 