Those who guard their lips preserve their lives
Proverbs 13:2-3 - Only God’s wisdom can guard your mouth and the words it speaks!
Image generated by ChatGPT (OpenAI) using the DALL·E model.
“From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence. Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”
Proverbs 13:2-3 NIV
I was happy to see that God directed me back to Proverbs today, because if there is one person who needs to study and understand wisdom, it’s me! You can read all of our devotionals that are based on Proverbs by clicking here.
The first of these two related proverbs refers to “fruit of their lips”, referring to what we say to others. The ancient Hebrew word פְּרִי (pᵊrî) is interpreted as “fruit” or “offspring”, but can also mean the “fruits of actions” — here essentially interpreted as “the results of what we say”.
Thinking about what we’re saying before we say it, and using wisdom to choose the right words before speaking, we can be blessed by God in many ways. I don’t know about you, but I am much more apt to give my business to someone (a contractor, a doctor, a dentist, a waiter in a restaurant, etc…) who is polite, well-spoken, and never speaks ill of others ahead of someone who trashes his or her competition, has no manners, and uses foul language in public. The one who wisely chooses his or her words is more likely to be blessed with prosperity than an angry and foul-mouthed person.
He’s speaking rashly and about to come to ruin… Image generated by ChatGPT (OpenAI) using the DALL·E model.
Solomon goes on to say that “the unfaithful have an appetite for violence”, meaning that those who are unfaithful to God and the wisdom He gives us through His Word may choose to support themselves through violence. Looking at our society today, you certainly don’t see many true believers acting out violently…
17th Century theologian Matthew Poole said of those with an “appetite for violence”, that they “Shall have that violence and injury returned upon themselves, which they have offered to others in word or deed.”1
Looking at verse 3, we see what wise and good words can do for a person. For those who speak them, they “preserve their lives”. This in moments of confrontation, when choosing not to say something or thinking about what to say to defuse a situation can literally save one’s life. It also makes sense over a lifetime, when using the wisdom imparted by God’s Word to stay out of trouble has a way of providing a life much worth living.
The Enduring Word commentary on these verses has some wonderful quotes from Adam Clarke:
ii. “The old Arab proverb is appropriate: ‘Take heed that your tongue does not cut your throat’.”
i. “How often have the foolish, headstrong, and wicked, forfeited their lives by the treasonable or blasphemous words they have spoken! The government of the tongue is a rare but useful talent.”
ii. “It has often been remarked that God has, given us two EYES, that we may SEE much; two EARS, that we may HEAR much; but has given us but ONE tongue, and that fenced in with teeth, to indicate that though we hear and see much, we should speak but little.”2
The end of the verse puts it plainly — “those who speak rashly will come to ruin.” Speaking too much, or speaking the wrong words (especially to the wrong people) leads to trouble, and even to ruin. Only God’s wisdom can guard your mouth and the words it speaks!
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear God, help me to speak wisely and to guard my words, knowing that they can bring good or lead to destruction. May I always choose to use my speech to uplift and encourage others, reflecting your wisdom in my life. AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
Commentary quotations from Enduring Word are used with the written permission of the author
Poole, Matthew “A Commentary on the Holy Bible” Volume 2 (Psalms-Malachi) (London: Banner of Truth Trust, 1968)
Clarke, Adam “Clarke’s Commentary: The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments with a Commentary and Critical Notes” Volume 3 (Job-Song of Solomon) (New York: Eaton and Mains, 1827)