Proverbs 10:17-32: a reflection

17He is in the way of life who heeds correction, but he who forsakes reproof leads others astray. 18He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool. 19In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely. 20The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth. 21The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding. 22The LORD’s blessing brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. 23It is a fool’s pleasure to do wickedness, but wisdom is a man of understanding’s pleasure. 24What the wicked fear will overtake them, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more; but the righteous stand firm forever. 26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. 27The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. 28The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish. 29The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. 30The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land. 31The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

Among the many proverbs gathered here is a plain word about the danger of too many words and the wisdom of restraint. In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, it says, but he who restrains his lips does wisely. Where words are many, sin is seldom far behind; the more we talk, the more likely we are to say what we should not, to slip, to wound, to speak rashly. But the one who restrains his lips, who does not pour out every word, acts wisely. Restrained speech, guarded and measured, is wiser than a flood of words. The tongue of the righteous, the proverb adds, is like choice silver, precious because it is used with care. There is wisdom in holding back our words, in speaking less and more carefully, rather than letting them run unchecked.

Notice the wisdom the proverb commends: restraint of the lips, over a multitude of words. It does not praise the ready flow of speech; it warns that where words are many, transgression is not lacking, and commends the one who restrains his lips. The more freely we talk, the more likely we are to slip, to say the rash or hurtful or foolish thing; but the one who guards his words, who speaks with restraint, does wisely. There is a carefulness in speech that treats words as precious, like choice silver, not to be poured out carelessly. To restrain the lips, to speak less and more carefully, is wiser than to let words run unchecked. The wisdom is not in saying much but in saying rightly, and often in saying less. Guarded speech guards us from much trouble.

That is worth taking to heart, for there is wisdom in restraining our words rather than letting them run unchecked. We can pour out words freely, saying whatever comes, and find that in the flood we have slipped, wounded, or spoken rashly; but the proverb warns that where words are many, transgression is not lacking, and commends the one who restrains his lips. There is wisdom in speaking less and more carefully, in guarding our words. Do not let your words run unchecked, pouring out whatever comes; restrain your lips, speaking with care, as the proverb commends. Restrain your words and speak with care rather than letting them run unchecked, as the proverb warns that in a multitude of words transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips does wisely; for where words are many, sin is seldom far behind, and there is wisdom in guarding our speech, speaking less and more carefully and treating our words as precious rather than pouring them out unchecked.

Lord, among the many proverbs gathered here is a plain word about the danger of too many words and the wisdom of restraint. In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, it says, but he who restrains his lips does wisely. Where words are many, sin is seldom far behind; the more we talk, the more likely we are to say what we should not, to slip, to wound, to speak rashly. But the one who restrains his lips acts wisely. The tongue of the righteous, the proverb adds, is like choice silver, precious because it is used with care. Show me the wisdom the proverb commends: restraint of the lips, over a multitude of words. It does not praise the ready flow of speech; it warns that where words are many, transgression is not lacking. The more freely I talk, the more likely I am to slip, to say the rash or hurtful thing; but the one who guards his words does wisely. There is a carefulness in speech that treats words as precious, not to be poured out carelessly. The wisdom is not in saying much but in saying rightly, and often in saying less. Take that to my heart, for there is wisdom in restraining my words rather than letting them run unchecked. I can pour out words freely, saying whatever comes, and find that in the flood I have slipped, wounded, or spoken rashly; but the proverb commends the one who restrains his lips. There is wisdom in speaking less and more carefully. Keep me from letting my words run unchecked, pouring out whatever comes; help me restrain my lips, Lord, speaking with care, as the proverb commends, for where words are many, sin is seldom far behind.