Selected Passages from Proverbs - Chapters 10-29

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life . . .
The tongue of the wise brings healing.

Truthful lips endure forever . . . The Lord delights in men who are truthful.
The tongue has the power of life and death.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

He who guards his lips guards his soul,
but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
When words are many sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

A man who lacks judgement derides his neighbor,
Mockers stir up a city. . . do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

He who covers over an offense promotes love,
but he who repeats the matter separates close friends.

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
He who loves a quarrel loves sin.
It is a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

Without wood a fire goes out, without gossip a quarrel dies down.
A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.

He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious
will have the king for his friend.

Matthew 12:33-37

33. "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
34. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
35. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
36. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
37. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

James 3:9-11

9. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
10. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
11. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

Return