Proverbs – Day 10
Scripture: Proverbs 10
The proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
but righteousness delivers from death.
The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
Lazy hands make for poverty,
but diligent hands bring wealth.
He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
The name of the righteous is used in blessings,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Hatred stirs up conflict,
but love covers over all wrongs.
Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
The wages of the righteous is life,
but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
and spreads slander is a fool.
Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
but the prudent hold their tongues.
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
The blessing of the Lord brings wealth,
without painful toil for it.
A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,
but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
What the wicked dread will overtake them;
what the righteous desire will be granted.
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
but the righteous stand firm forever.
As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so are sluggards to those who send them.
The fear of the Lord adds length to life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
The way of the Lord is a refuge for the blameless,
but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
The righteous will never be uprooted,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
Devotional:
Words are powerful. In this chapter, Solomon describes how wise talk involves carefully chosen words (v 32), that these words bring life (v 11) and are of great value (v 20). As king, Solomon knew the power of his words. He could use them to resolve disputes, carry God’s Word to the people, and make peace with neighboring provinces. In his wisdom, he knew that creation itself came into being as a result of a few potent words: “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Gen 1:3).
However, words also have the power to destroy. “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Pr 12:18). Angry outbursts crush a child’s spirit, flippant cliches cut deep into the heart of those grieving, inappropriate jokes tarnish our reputation.
A popular carpenter’s saying is “Measure twice, cut once.” If preparing ahead of time prevents costly mistakes when building, how much grief could be saved if we “think twice, talk once?” Be cautious with both your word choice and timing. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise” (Pr 10:19). Think and pray before you speak to avoid saying something you’ll regret. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (Jas 1:5).
Are you someone who starts thinking of a clever retort before someone finishes their thought? “To answer before listening—that is folly and shame” (Pr 18:13). Do you rush to finish other people’s sentences so you can share what you have to say? “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions” (Pr 18:2).
Build up your listening muscle and you’ll find your interactions and relationships improve dramatically. In fact, you could even look smarter by using fewer words since “even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues” (Pr 17:28).
Key Verse:
“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.” ~ Proverbs 10:11
Questions:
- How have you used your words today to create or build up another?
- How might you have used fewer words in a recent conversation to create a more positive outcome?
