Five Characteristics of Wise Speech

Have you ever wondered if what you said was the right thing? Have you ever wondered if you said something in the right way? Am I the only one who struggles with finding the wisest way to communicate? Am I the only one who longs for the wisdom to know how to communicate in a righteous way? Do I say it or do I bite my tongue? Proverbs chapter 12 gives us some great advice about wise speech.

Wise Speech Is Instructive

The chapter starts with Proverbs 12:1 saying, “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.” What we say ultimately comes from what is in our hearts (see Matthew 12:34-37). So the wise love discipline, knowledge and correction. Proverbs 10:14 says, “Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.” Remember Jesus taught that what is stored up in our heart comes out of our mouth (Matthew 12:34-37). Proverbs 15:2 says, “The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.” Instruction, advice, and knowledge spring from the overflow of your heart. Proverbs 14:7 warns us, “Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.”

Wisdom’s love of discipline, knowledge, and correction cause a wise man to seek and give advice. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” The fool will not heed the instruction of the wise. Proverbs 24:6 says, “for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.” The wise man listens to the advice of many advisors not just one in order to hear every side of a matter. Proverbs 18:17 says, “The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.” The wise man has listened to the advice of many and then gives advice from the knowledge he has stored up within him.

The fool never takes advice he only gives bad advice. Proverbs 12:5 explains that, “The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.” You can tell the wisdom of good advice because it plans things that are righteous. When the advice is deceitful and crafty, it is not wise. Proverbs 12:2 says, “A good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a crafty man.” Wise speech instructs us with knowledge, advice, correction and discipline.

Wise Speech Is Truthful

It is plain and simple. The wicked lie. The righteous tell the truth. Proverbs 12:17 says, A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.” Wise speech is always honest and truthful. God is not neutral on the matter either. Proverbs 12:22 say, “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.” The consequences of our speech are serious. Proverbs 12:19 warns us, “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” It could not be plainer and should be taken seriously. The fool does not take honesty seriously. Proverbs 19:28 says, “A corrupt witness mocks at justice…” The wise person is diligent to tell the truth. Revelation 21:8 proclaims, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars— their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” Wise speech is truthful and honest at all times.

Wise Speech Is Wholesome

What is in our heart comes out in our speech. Proverbs 12:20 says, “There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace.” If we have evil motives in our heart, it will come out in deceptive speech. In contrast, those with pure hearts find joy as their speech promotes peace rather than harm. Only the wise know the joy of peace produced by wise speech.

We reap what we sow. Proverbs 12:14 teaches, “From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.” Just as the work of our hands produces a harvest, so each word we say is like planting seeds that will eventually produce a harvest of righteousness and life or a harvest of wickedness and destruction. Our speech controls our destiny. Proverbs 12:13 warns, “An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble.” Filthy, deceitful, or malicious talk will trap you. Wholesome speech will free you and lead to peaceful joy.

Wise Speech Is Graceful

Our speech should be full of grace. Grace is an underserved gift given to those in need. Grace gives us what we need, not what we deserve. Proverbs 12:6 points out that, “The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.” The wicked use words to trap people, condemn people, and destroy people. When you point out someone’s faults or mistakes is it because you are “out for blood,” or is it because you want to rescue the lost? Your motives and what is in your heart will determine what you say and how you say it. Proverbs 12:16 tells us, “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.” What is in your heart, anger and annoyance or grace that overlooks peoples insults? Ecclesiastes 10:12 reminds us, “Words from a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips.”

And our speech has powerful consequences not only for us, but also in other’s lives. Proverbs 12:25 says, “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” We have the power to heal hearts, encourage the downcast, and cheer up the grieving with our speech. Proverbs15:1 explains that “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” With our words we can turn away anger or stir it up. With our words we can cheer or depress, lift up or tear down, inspire or discourage. Our grace-filled words are powerful. Proverbs 15:23 reads, “A man finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!” Proverbs 25:11 adds, “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Graceful speech is a valuable gift from the wise.

Wise Speech Is Careful

Not everyone thinks the same. There are differences between personalities, cultural back grounds and between the way men and women relate and communicate. So when we talk, we need to be careful that we communicate in a way that is constructive not destructive. We have to use care to share grace. Proverbs 12:18 says, “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” We can’t be reckless and cavalier in our speech. We need to show caution in how we relate to others. Proverbs 12:26 warns, “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

Hasty words spoken in a moment of anger or spoken without consideration of how the other person will receive it, demonstrates a lack of wisdom. Thought is given to the words of the wise. James 1:19 says, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” We should think before we speak. We can’t just blurt things out without thinking first and expect not to reap the reward of the foolish. Proverbs 12:23 points out, “A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly.” Just because it is true and we know it, does not mean we should share it. Some things don’t need to be shared. Some things should remain unspoken, because to share them breaks a confidence or constitutes gossip. We should never lie, but we don’t have to share every thing we know. It is often wise to listen to what another knows before deciding to share what you know. Wise speech is always cautious and careful.

Conclusion

So are you wise in how you talk? From the above five elements of wise speech I can see I have often spoken like a fool. May God forgive us! We should now make every effort to become wise in how we talk. To do that, we must change our heart. Are you instructing in knowledge? Are you truthful in all honesty? Are you wholesome and pure? Are you graceful and seeking peace? Are you careful and considerate of how others will receive what you have to say? Are you wise in how you talk?

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