Introduction
Before getting into the meaning of Proverbs 15:28, here’s different Bible translations:
King James Version
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
American Standard Version
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
World English Bible version
The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
Proverbs 15:28 Meaning & Commentary
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. – Proverbs 15:28 (ESV)
The words we speak carry great power – they have the power to ‘shape’ our lives: Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. However, Proverbs 15:28 speaks about the power of our words from a slightly different viewpoint. This verse says that a righteous person ponders how to answer. When you ponder something, you think and meditate on it before you say something. It can be so dangerous to speak our minds right away and blurt out the first thing that comes to our minds! Words spoken cannot be undone – this is a profound truth that we will do to remind ourselves of often.
If we respond to someone in anger, the person will not be able to ‘unhear’ what we have said. Furthermore, by our words, we can make a commitment to somebody or agree to something we may later regret. Jesus even said we would ultimately be judged by our words: Matthew 12:37 – for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. This is why it is so important to carefully ponder what we say and how we answer! The second part of Proverbs 15:28 says that the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things. Whether it be fits of rage, making promises they cannot keep, or just speaking carefully and reckless words – it is wicked to let our mouth run wild without any guard or filter.
We all have moments when our emotions try and get the better of us. In these times, we are most prone to ‘pour out evil things.’ Even a good person can feel down, frustrated, or angry occasionally. However, guarding our mouth is vitality important every day.
Application
How can we apply Proverbs 15:28 to our lives?
We are given a key in the book of James to manage our mouths: James 1:19 – Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger… The Bible tells us to be slow to speak and quick to hear. This implies that when engaging with someone, we should really take time to listen to them, understand what they are saying, and then respond or speak after that. Furthermore, The Bible tells us to get understanding: Proverbs 4:5 – Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.
This principle can also be applied to people and relationships. This means that when we are engaging with people, it goes a long way when we take time to try and understand what they are saying and where they are coming from. It is commonly believed that many fights and arguments come from simply misunderstanding one another! Therefore, in our daily relationships, we must practice being diligent in listening and doing our best to understand and only after that – to ‘answer’ or respond accordingly. This could dramatically improve the quality of our relationships with other people.
Furthermore, we must choose our words carefully when committing to others or agreeing to something. People are held to their words, and we must be sure when we say ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ Another crucial aspect of controlling our tongue is not ‘speaking out’ in anger. When we find our emotions bubbling to the surface and anger or frustration inside, we will do well to disconnect ourselves from whatever situation we are engaged in.
The truth is that our mouths and heart are connected, and what is on the inside often comes out: Matthew 12:34 – You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Therefore, when we feel frustrated and annoyed, it is a good idea to remove ourselves from the situation, let our emotions subside and then we can think and speak with self-control.
Prayer
Mighty God, thank You for the wisdom in Your word to live life effectively. Please help me apply today’s teaching, especially when dealing with difficult people. I ask for wisdom and self-control and that You would help me to understand people better. I ask this all in Jesus’ name. Amen!
