Proverbs 15:1-33 (NLT)
1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.
3 The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.
4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
5 Only a fool despises a parent’s discipline; whoever learns from correction is wise.
6 There is treasure in the house of the godly, but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.
7 The lips of the wise give good advice; the heart of a fool has none to give.
8 The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright.
9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue godliness.
10 Whoever abandons the right path will be severely disciplined; whoever hates correction will die.
11 Even Death and Destruction hold no secrets from the LORD. How much more does he know the human heart!
12 Mockers hate to be corrected, so they stay away from the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.
14 A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.
15 For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.
16 Better to have little, with fear for the LORD, than to have great treasure and inner turmoil.
17 A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate.
18 A hot-tempered person starts fights; a cool-tempered person stops them.
19 A lazy person’s way is blocked with briers, but the path of the upright is an open highway.
20 Sensible children bring joy to their father; foolish children despise their mother.
21 Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path.
22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.
23 Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!
24 The path of life leads upward for the wise; they leave the grave behind.
25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he protects the property of widows.
26 The LORD detests evil plans, but he delights in pure words.
27 Greed brings grief to the whole family, but those who hate bribes will live.
28 The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words.
29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.
30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health.
31 If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.
32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.
33 Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.
The condition of the heart—what it consumes and meditates on—determines the words it produces. The power of those words to bring gladness, peace, and wise counsel is how lives are influenced toward godliness and good. Yet there is also power to lead others onto destructive paths when the heart has been filled with influences of corrupt origin. Because of this, there are often attempts to control words in order to control their impact. But there is a far greater way to produce godly speech.
It is the preparation of the heart that gives rise to righteous words. What the heart is fed will inevitably be revealed through the mouth. Without true transformation of the heart, even sincere efforts to speak rightly will eventually fail, and unintended words will expose what the heart has truly been feeding on. Blessing or harm, peace or turmoil, freedom or oppression—these are the inevitable outcomes of whatever holds the heart’s focus.
How necessary, then, is a fixed gaze on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Words of faith that move mountains, cast out demons, and set captives free can only flow from a heart that is continually feeding on the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. As we truly abide in Him, there is great expectation for the words that follow. What we ask, what we declare, and what we share flows from a heart aligned with the same life-giving passion that marked the words of the Master.
Lasting influence for good does not come from striving to control the lips, but from intentionally filling the heart with His words of life.