Proverbs 21:17-31: a reflection

17He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich. 18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright. 19It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman. 20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up. 21He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor. 22A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence. 23Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. 24The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride. 25The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. 26There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold. 27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind! 28A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity. 29A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways. 30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. 31The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.

Among these proverbs of practical wisdom is one about the trouble our words can bring, and the safety of guarding them: Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. So much of the difficulty we bring on ourselves comes not from our deeds but from our words, the careless remark, the sharp reply, the thing said in haste that cannot be unsaid. And the proverb points to a simple safeguard: watch your mouth, guard your tongue.

Notice how directly the proverb ties our speech to our troubles: guarding the mouth keeps the soul out of trouble. Words spoken carelessly, in anger, in haste, or without thought, land us in conflicts, wound others, damage relationships, and come back to trouble us. But the one who guards his tongue, who watches what he says, who holds back the hasty or harmful word, is spared much of this. A guarded mouth is a great protection.

That is wisdom worth practicing every day. Consider how much of the trouble in your own life has come through words, things said that should not have been, replies made in haste, remarks that wounded or provoked. And consider the protection of a guarded tongue: the words held back, the pause before speaking, the restraint that keeps the harmful word unsaid. Guard your mouth and your tongue. Think before you speak; hold back the hasty, sharp, or harmful word; let your speech be considered rather than careless. Much trouble comes through unguarded words, and much is spared by a guarded tongue; watch what you say, and keep yourself from a great deal of harm.

Lord, your word says that whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. Teach me to practice that wisdom. So much of the difficulty I bring on myself comes not from my deeds but from my words, the careless remark, the sharp reply, the thing said in haste that cannot be unsaid. Help me consider how much trouble in my life has come through words, and the protection of a guarded tongue. Help me think before I speak, hold back the hasty, sharp, or harmful word, and let my speech be considered rather than careless. Set a guard over my mouth, and keep watch over the door of my lips. Much trouble comes through unguarded words, and much is spared by a guarded tongue; help me watch what I say, and keep myself, and others, from a great deal of harm. Let my words be few, kind, and wise.