"The Mouth, pt.2" (40 Days of Wisdom for Lent)

To people belong the plans of the heart,
but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
The skilled mind is called discerning,
and pleasant speech enhances teaching.
The mind of the wise makes their speech insightful
and enhances the teaching of their lips.
Pleasant words are flowing honey,
sweet to the taste and healing to the bones.
Worthless people dig up trouble;
their lips are like a scorching fire.
Destructive people produce conflict;
gossips alienate close friends.
(Proverbs 16:1,21,23-24,27-28 CEB)

An evildoer pays attention to guilty lips;
a liar listens to a destructive tongue.
Too much talking isn’t right for a fool;
even less so false speech for an honorable person.
One who seeks love conceals an offense,
but one who repeats it divides friends.
Those with crooked hearts won’t prosper,
and those with twisted tongues will fall into trouble.
Wise are those who restrain their talking;
people with understanding are cool headed.
Fools who keep quiet are deemed wise;
those who shut their lips are smart.
(Proverbs 17:4,7,9,20,27-28 CEB)

The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters,
a bubbling stream, a fountain of wisdom.
The lips of fools make accusations;
their mouths elicit beatings.
The mouth of fools is their ruin;
their lips are a trap for their lives.
The words of gossips are like choice snacks;
they go down to the inmost parts.
The stomach is satisfied
by the fruit of the mouth;
one’s lips can earn a satisfying income.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
those who love it will eat its fruit.
(Proverbs 18:4,6-8,20-21 CEB)

Better to be poor and walk in innocence
than to have dishonest lips and be a fool.
A worthless witness mocks justice;
the wicked mouth gulps down trouble.
(Proverbs 19:1,28 CEB)

Much gold and many pearls exist,
but wise speech is the most precious jewel.
Gossips reveal secrets;
don’t associate with those who talk too much.
It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and only reflect after making the promise.
(Proverbs 20:15,19,25 CEB)

Those who gain treasure with lies
are like a drifting fog, leading to death.
Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
guard themselves from trouble.
A lying witness will perish,
but one who listens will testify successfully.
(Proverbs 21:6,23,28 CEB)

Don’t speak in the ears of fools,
for they will scorn your insightful words.
My child, if your heart is wise,
then my heart too will be happy.
My inner being will rejoice
when your lips speak with integrity.
(Proverbs 23:9,15-16 CEB)

Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without reason;
don’t deceive with your lips.
Don’t say, “I’ll do to them what they did to me.
I’ll pay them back for their actions.”
(Proverbs 24:28-29 CEB)

What your eyes see, don’t be quick to quarrel over;
what will you do in the future when your neighbor shames you?
Argue it out with your neighbor,
and don’t give away someone’s secret.
Otherwise, the one who hears it will vilify you;
the slander against you will never stop.
Words spoken at the right time
are like gold apples in a silver setting.
Wise correction to an ear that listens
is like a gold earring or jewelry of fine gold.
(Proverbs 25:8-12 CEB)

Don’t answer fools according to their folly,
or you will become like them yourself.
As legs dangle from a disabled person,
so does a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Like a thorny bush in the hand of a drunk,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
Without wood a fire goes out;
without gossips, conflict calms down.
The words of gossips are like choice snacks;
they go down to the inmost parts.
Smooth lips and an evil heart
are like silver coating on clay.
Hateful people mislead with their lips,
keeping their deception within.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes;
a flattering mouth causes destruction.
(Proverbs 26:4,7,9,20,22-24,28 CEB)

Don’t brag about tomorrow,
for you don’t know what a day will bring.
Let another person praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
A crucible is for silver and a furnace for gold,
so are people in the presence of someone who praises them.
(Proverbs 27:1-2,21 CEB)

Do you see people who are quick to speak?
There is more hope for fools than for them.
(Proverbs 29:20 CEB)

If you’ve been foolish and arrogant,
if you’ve been scheming,
put your hand to your mouth,
because churning milk makes curds,
squeezing the nose brings blood,
and stirring up anger produces strife.
(Proverbs 30:32-33 CEB)

Speak out on behalf of the voiceless,
and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.
Speak out in order to judge with righteousness
and to defend the needy and the poor.
(Proverbs 31:8-9 CEB)