Beauty of the Tongue
BEAUTY OF THE TONGUE
BOOK OF PROVERBS
8:6 “Listen, for I will speak noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.
7 “For my mouth will utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 “All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.
9 “They are all straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.
10:13 On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.
18 He who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And he who spreads slander is a fool.
19 When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of understanding.
31 The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
But the perverted tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.
11:11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.
13 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
14 Where there is no guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is victory.
12:6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.
13:2 From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good,
But the desire of the treacherous is violence.
3 The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
14:25 A truthful witness saves lives,
But he who utters lies is treacherous.
15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.
4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
16:1 The plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.
28 A perverse man spreads strife,
And a slanderer separates intimate friends.
17: 9 He who conceals a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
20 He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.
27 He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
18:4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
6 A fool’s lips bring strife,
And his mouth calls for blows.
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
13 He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.
20 With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
23 The poor man utters supplications,
But the rich man answers roughly.
19:1 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will not escape.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will perish.
28 A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.
20: 15 There is gold, and an abundance of jewels;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
20 He who curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will go out in time of darkness.
22:10 Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out,
Even strife and dishonor will cease.
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
He who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it.
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips.
23: 9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
15 My son, if your heart is wise,
My own heart also will be glad;
16 And my inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak what is right.
24:26 He kisses the lips
Who gives a right answer.
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
And do not deceive with your lips.
25:8 Do not go out hastily to argue your case;
Otherwise, what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
9 Argue your case with your neighbor,
And do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Or he who hears it will reproach you,
And the evil report about you will not pass away.
11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.
15 By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
23 The north wind brings forth rain,
And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
26:2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a curse without cause does not alight.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him.
5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes.
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross
Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 He who hates disguises it with his lips,
But he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.
27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.
9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.
28:23 He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
29:5 A man who flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.
30:5 Every word of God is tested;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 Do not add to His words
Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.
14 There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords
And his jaw teeth like knives,
To devour the afflicted from the earth
And the needy from among men.
31:10 An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.