Words of Wisdom: Strife, Speech, and the Power of the Tongue
Proverbs 18:1-24
Reminder: Pray to God to set your heart right as you engage His word. The text you are about to study was not written to you but is written for you. So, before applying we must ask the following questions:
- What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
READ THE SCRIPTURE(Multiple times & translations and notice the words that standout)
Biblegateway (NIV) (My choice of all-round site. It's a Great app, better on computers or on smartphones)
StepBible (ESV) (Great on phone or computer with good resources.)
Literal Word (New American Standard Bible) (Works well on a smartphone or computer + for searching for words like a printed concordance)
Biblia.com (New Century Version) (Great on a computer especially if you have a logos account)
BibleRef.com (New King James Version) Basic able to compare core translations.
Bible.com (Lexham English Bible)
Hashtags:
#Speech
#Fools
#Rich
#Wicked
#Wisdom
#Righteous
#Destruction
Themes
The Destructive Power of Isolation
Consequences of Foolishness
The Power and Impact of Words
The Impartiality of God's Justice
True Friendship and Brotherhood
Topics
Social Isolation
Wise and Foolish Speech
The Role of Intelligence
God's Omniscience and Justice
The Strength of True Companionship
Potential Sermon Titles: ??
Intro Questions to get us thinking:
- What is your favorite proverb or witty saying? From whom did you learn it? Where does it apply?
- In forming your own opinion of political candidates and officeholders, what sources do you listen to and why? Which do you ignore and why?
ESV Text with Highlights
#God
#People = The Wise ,The Fool, The Quarrelsome, The Wicked, A True Friend
#Time =
#Place =
#Obedient faith =
#Sin =
#Key Idea =
#People = The Wise ,The Fool, The Quarrelsome, The Wicked, A True Friend
#Time =
#Place =
#Obedient faith =
#Sin =
#Key Idea =
Proverbs 18 ESV
1Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.
3When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5It is not good to be partial toa the wicked
or to deprive the righteous of justice.
6A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.
7A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9Whoever is slack in his work
is a brother to him who destroys.
10The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
11A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
12Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
13If one gives an answer before he hears,
it is his folly and shame.
14A man’s spirit will endure sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16A man’s gift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.
17The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.
18The lot puts an end to quarrels
and decides between powerful contenders.
19A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
22He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.
23The poor use entreaties,
but the rich answer roughly.
24A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
1Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.
3When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5It is not good to be partial toa the wicked
or to deprive the righteous of justice.
6A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.
7A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9Whoever is slack in his work
is a brother to him who destroys.
10The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
11A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
12Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
13If one gives an answer before he hears,
it is his folly and shame.
14A man’s spirit will endure sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16A man’s gift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.
17The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.
18The lot puts an end to quarrels
and decides between powerful contenders.
19A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
22He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.
23The poor use entreaties,
but the rich answer roughly.
24A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
OBSERVATIONS(Reflect on the topic and build the concept the writer is trying to communicate to the original audience)
ebible (NLT) (Best for having Bible sections divided by "pericope" or sections by thought)
Bible Project (NLT) (Helpful videos and instructions for the bigger picture)
Thematic Bible(Books and Chapters Structure)
Bible Hub = Outline, Themes, Topics, People, Locations, and Questions
Wisdom instructs on moral virtues and their contrary vices.
- The Mouth of a Fool (18:1–9): Fools only want to air their own opinions, they get into constant quarrels, and their mouths are their ruin.
- The Safety of the Lord (18:10–11): The godly run to the Lord when in trouble.
- The Power of the Tongue (18:12–21): It “can kill or nourish life.”
- The Wonders of a Wife (18:22): “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure and receives favor from the Lord.”
- The Best of All Brothers (18:23–24): “A real friend sticks closer than a brother.”
STUDY RESOURCES (This takes some work and here are more resources than you can go through completely)
NETBible (New English Translation) (Great for original text information)
BibleHub (HCSB) (Good on computer or app/phone with lots of well-organized information.)
BlueLetter (King James Version) (A variety of resources and good on Phones / better on Computers)
StudyLight (New Revised Standard) (Great site with commentaries by Burton Coffman)
KnowingJesus (Phone / Computer and great for comparing translations)
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- Following Proverbs 17:27-28, what does this chapter say about a fool's tongue, lips, mouth? How do these proverbs relate to the forming and articulating of opinions? Which three relate to eating? Which one best sums up all the others?
- What is the meaning of "deep waters" (v. Proverbs 18:4; see 20:5)? How does the "bubbling brook" of wisdom differ from the profundity, obscurity or secrecy of "deep waters"?
- Which proverbs convey principles of justice for rich and poor alike (Proverbs 18:5, 16, 17, 19, 23)? Why do you think favoritism of any kind is uniformly condemned in the Scriptures? How might the Lord deal justly with the "fortified cities" of Proverbs 18:11, 19?
- What does this chapter say about finding and keeping your brothers, friends, and even your life mate?
- What is the main point of Proverbs 18:13, 17, taken together? As a guiding principle, how would you apply this to raising children? To formulate doctrine? Deliberating legal cases? Conducting scientific experiments? Making public policy?
APPLICATION(God wants us all to arrive at action, life-changing faith)
The Message (MSG) (An easy-to-read paraphrase that helps some with application)
Heartlight (Great for practical application of scripture)
- Where in your life does this guiding principle apply? What use of this proverbial wisdom does James 1:19-27 make? What difference would "listening before speaking" make in your group Bible study? In personal relationships? In your righteous living and pure religion?
- How can you tell a closed mind from an open mind (Proverbs 18:2, 13, 17)? How do you feel around such people? Which is more typical of you?
- Could your spirit sustain you in sickness? Or does it crush you? Why (Proverbs 18:14)? How might you strengthen your spirit so that it can sustain you, and so that you are a source of life to others?
- The tongue (speech) has "the power of life and death" (Proverbs 18:21). What are some examples of life? Of death?
- What kind of friend or brother are you?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
NOTICEABLE GROUPINGS IN CHAPTER 18
#Speech #Fools #Rich #Wicked #Wisdom #Righteous #Destruction
“Speech”—
- “The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters” (Proverbs 18:4).
- “A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for stripes” (Proverbs 18:6).
- “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul” (Proverbs 18:7).
- “The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts” (Proverbs 18:8).
- “He that gives answer before he hears, It is folly and shame unto him” (Proverbs 18:13).
- “A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied” (Proverbs 18:20).
- “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).
- “The poor uses entreaties; But the rich answers roughly” (Proverbs 18:23).
“Fools”—
- “A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself” (Proverbs 18:2).
- “A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for stripes” (Proverbs 18:6).
- “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul” (Proverbs 18:7).
- “He that gives answer before he hears, It is folly and shame unto him” (Proverbs 18:13).
“Rich”—
- “The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination” (Proverbs 18:11).
- “The rich answers roughly” (Proverbs 18:23).
“ Wicked”—
- “When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt” (Proverbs 18:3).
- “To respect the person of the wicked is not good” (Proverbs 18:5).
“Wisdom”—
- “The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook” (Proverbs 18:4).
- “The heart of the prudent gets knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (Proverbs 18:15).
“Righteous”—
- “Not good...to turn aside the righteous in judgment” (Proverbs 18:5).
- “The righteous runs into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10).
“Destruction”—
- “The fool’s mouth is his destruction” (Proverbs 18:7).
- “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty” (Proverbs 18:12).
- “He that makes many friends does it to his own destruction” (Proverbs 18:24).
Other Resources:
- Other YouTube Videos
Discovery Bible Study
Articles
- Devotions
Developing Long-Term Relationships
“Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers” (Proverbs 18:24 TEV).
The Bible gives us six building blocks for developing long-term relationships:
1. We must be considerate. “People want others to be loyal, so it is better to be poor than to be a liar” (Proverbs 19:22 NCV).
2. We must be confidential. “No one who gossips can be trusted with a secret, but you can put confidence in someone who is trustworthy” (Proverbs 11:13 TEV).
3. We must be candid. “An honest answer is a sign of true friendship” (Proverbs 24:26 TEV).
4. We must be constructive. “People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17 TEV).
5. We must be consistent. “Friends always show their love. What are relatives for if not to share trouble?” (Proverbs 17:17 TEV).
6. We must be committed. “Some friendships do not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers” (Proverbs 18:24 TEV).
The point is obvious: You will attract whatever you are!
Links
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