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18

Bible Reading for May 18 – Proverbs 9-12

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In the age of the internet, and especially where it comes to social media, we are flooded with all sorts of opinions on every side of every issue. What should we say, and what should we leave unsaid?

Of course the Romantics would tell us that we should always speak our minds, since sincerity is their only measure of truth. And at first glance, Solomon appears to agree, saying, “He who conceals hatred has lying lips” (Proverbs 10:18). But in the same verse, he goes on to say, “He who spreads slander is a fool.” So, the need to be forthright must be balanced with the need to be truthful.

And sometimes, especially when it’s hard to determine what is in fact the truth, it’s best to say nothing at all: “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). And this is in no small measure because we need to do a lot more listening than we do speaking: “He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who forsakes reproof goes astray” (Proverbs 10:17). When we’re so busy saying what we think, we don’t have time to listen to others who have something to teach us.

But how do we know which voices to trust? We must always seek out the words of the righteous, those who are living, thinking, and speaking in a right relationship with God. After all, “The lips of the righteous feed many,” and, “The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver” (Proverbs 10:20, 21). Forgetting this condemns us to focus at best only on what is worthless (Proverbs 10:20). At worst, heeding godless advice can even lead to death (Proverbs 10:21).

Proverbs 10:17-21 (NASB)

17 He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, But he who forsakes reproof goes astray.
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.