Gems of Wisdom From the Bibleনমুনা

Choose your words wisely

Wise words are valuable. “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver … The lips of the righteous feed many”. But not all words are helpful. Some people just keep talking without end, without having much to say. Phrased more poetically: “the mouths of fools pour out folly”. That’s not a wise thing to do. If we don’t have anything important or useful to say, we’d better “restrain our lips”.

Speaking wisely is both about what we say, and when we say it. Even great truths are not appropriate for every situation. If somebody is deeply troubled or sorrowful, like Job was for example, we should be especially careful not to throw ‘cheap truths’ in his face. That’s what Job’s friends did when he was suffering: “Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good” (Job 5:27). But their ‘wisdom’ didn’t help Job at all. “Miserable comforters are you all”, he cried out, “Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?” (Job 16:2-3).

Be careful what you say. Choose your words wisely, and know when to keep quiet. For “how forceful are upright words!” (Job 6:25) and “a word in season, how good it is!” (Proverbs 15:23).