Proverbs 17:28 CEV

 
Be Slow To Speak
JAMES 1:19 NIV
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
 
How many times have you said something and later regretted it? Too often we practice: Speak now and think later.
 
What would happen if you silently consulted with God before speaking? If you thought about, and prayed about, everything you said — before you said it — your life would be different.
 
1 PETER 3:10 LB
10 If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies.
 
Words are powerful and should be used to accomplish a purpose. Don’t just talk for no reason. Remember, you can always learn more by listening than you can by talking.
 
Be slow to speak!
 
SAY THIS: God, please help me to control my tongue.
Dean Wall
 

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Proverbs 17:28 KJV

 
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Proverbs 26:4 NIV

Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 26:5 NIV

 
In one verse, the Bible says, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself” (Proverbs 26:4).
 
In the very next verse we read, “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes” (Proverbs 26:5).
 
These two verses are often used to disprove the inspiration of the Bible. After all, it would appear to be a blatant contradiction. In one verse it says we should not answer a fool; the very next sentence tells us we should answer a fool. Which is it?
 
I’ve read a few different answers to this — many good thoughts. The best explanation I’ve found is that there is simply no winning with a fool. If you allow yourself to be drawn into an argument with a fool, you may be brought down to his level. Fools tend to use anger and rudeness in their arguments. They speak without thinking first. They have no humility and are not concerned with truth as much as they are concerned with vindication. To use such tactics is foolish, and arguing with a fool prompts me to respond in kind. I cannot afford to fall into the fool’s trap.
 
However, we are told in the next proverb to answer a fool in order to prevent him from thinking he is wise when he is not. A fool believes that your silence is an admission of defeat — thus confirming him in his folly. Unfortunately, when that happens, his behavior has been reinforced and others may follow suit.
 
The problem is when you try to correct a fool, he will not receive your correction. The writer goes on to say: “Like a lame man’s legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool” (v. 7). A fool does not know what to do with wisdom. It is no use giving it to him. The best thing may be to leave him to God, for only God can break through his folly.
 
There is something worse than a fool: a man who is certain of his own wisdom. “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (v. 12).
 
I want so badly to be wise, but I am too often a fool. God, keep me from being wise in my own eyes, and grant me the wisdom that only you can provide.
 
A proverb can do incredible good in the life of those who will learn the lesson. But a proverb in the mouth of a fool can do incredible damage. Proper use of proverbs requires self-awareness and discernment. As a general rule, I find that people who read a proverb and think, “This applies so well to someone else — in fact, I think I’ll share the wisdom of this proverb with them right now” — that tends to be a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
 
The best way to read the Proverbs — heck, the best way to read the whole Bible — is probably the one where you say, “God, I’m not concerned right now with what you want to say to anyone but me.”
John Alan Turner
 

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Proverbs 26:4-5 KJV

Proverbs 20:3 ASV

Our Day 20 Daily Proverbs for October was written by Jessica Roberts, Proverbs for Breakfast.
 
“Every fool will be meddling.” It sounds like some southern axiom muttered from the corner of a grandma’s mouth, as she sits in her porch rocker! You can almost hear the southern drawl.
 
How true that when we unwisely get in the middle of a fight between two people, we often end up with the black eye and the busted lip. Not only should we not strive with others, but we need to stay out of other’s troubles. There is a time to help…and a time to let them work it out on their own. We can be a peacemaker without getting directly involved, and sometimes that is the wisest way.
Jessica Roberts
 

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

Proverbs 20:3 KJV

 
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Proverbs 30:2 ESV

 
The fastest way to wisdom is to be a fool, for God resists the proud and gives grace to the lowly (I Cor 3:18-20; James 4:6,10). The fastest way to folly is to think yourself wise, for God will destroy the proud (26:12; Isaiah 5:21; Rom 1:20-25; I Cor 1:19-21; Gal 6:3).
 
Here are inspired words of Agur (30:1), revealing his poor spirit and humble character at teaching Ithiel and Ucal. Note his use of “surely” to strengthen his admission.
 
Brutish. Of or pertaining to the brutes, or lower animals, as opposed to man. In want of intelligence or in failure to use reason: dull, irrational, uncultured, stupid. He opens instruction to his students by claiming to be more ignorant than any man, like a brute beast; and there is no false humility here, for he speaks by prophetic inspiration.
 
Solomon showed the same humility; when offered anything by the LORD, he admitted he was but a child and asked for wisdom (I Kings 3:5-9). And this humble spirit before God brought him very great blessings of understanding and much more (I Kgs 3:10-13).
 
And Agur and Solomon are not alone, for we see this very same spirit also in Moses (Num 12:3), Elihu (Job 32:6-7), David (I Sam 18:23; Ps 131:1), Asaph (Ps 73:21-22), Jeremiah (Jer 1:6), Daniel (Dan 2:30), Amos (Amos 7:14-15), and Paul (Eph 3:8).
 
Dear reader, do you see a pattern? Great men of God do not claim to be wise, for their secret to success lies in their complete humility before their Creator and Lord. And this is God’s order for things (Rom 12:16), as this brings Him the greater glory (I Cor 1:27). The God of heaven looks unto the man poor in spirit and with a contrite heart (Is 66:1-2).
 
God will bless the poor in spirit with riches of wisdom and other spiritual blessings (Matt 5:3; Luke 6:24). The man who says, “I do not know what to do,” may stand still and see God work for him (II Chron 20:12,17). Go to Him this way today and become wise! None of us know as we ought to know (I Cor 8:2); but we respond with confidence when confronting enemies of truth (Job 33:1-3; 36:1-4; Luke 1:3; I Cor 14:20; II Tim 3:17).
 
Has there ever been any meeker than our Lord Jesus? Never! He was lowly in heart, forbid promotional efforts, and never raised his voice in the street (Matt 11:29; 12:15-20).
Jonathan Crosby
 

Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

Proverbs 30:2 KJV

 
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