Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Proverbs 13-15
Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Words matter. There are soft words and there are grievous words. The Bible has much to say about the tongue and the words spoken by it. Today’s verse sets before the reader two different outcomes based on words spoken. The turning away of wrath, or the stirring up of anger. Words spoken make the difference between these two. Soft words (answers) turn away wrath. Grievous words stir up anger. Whether soft answers are given, or grievous words are used is up to the speaker. What does the speaker desire? Peace (the absence of wrath) or anger? The pathway to each is paved by the words the speaker speaks.
This is not the only teaching about words and speech in today’s readings. Here are some others.
In chapter thirteen:
Vs. 2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
Vs. 3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
In chapter fourteen:
Vs. 3 …the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Vs. 5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
Vs. 23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
In chapter fifteen:
Vs. 1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Vs. 2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Vs. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Vs. 7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: …
Vs. 14 …the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
Vs. 23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Vs. 26 … the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Vs. 28 … the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Seeing these verses compiled like this makes one point crystal clear: words spoken make a difference. What does a person desire? Violence, destruction, lies, penury, anger, foolishness, a breach in the spirit (a broken spirit), and evil things? Or, good, life, honesty, profit, the turning away of wrath, knowledge, a tree of life, and joy? The difference in these two lists is solely based on the proper use of the tongue. Evidently that which a person receives in life is directly tied to the use of their tongue, what they say. Amazing! Control the tongue and good things will happen.
Dr. William T. Howe
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