The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.  - Proverbs 15:28

Look before you leap.  There is a proverb outside Scripture that reminds us to seriously think about the steps we take, because once we take them we cannot get them back.  Our proverb today is similar to this except it deals with what we say.  One might say that this proverb could be said this way, "Think before you speak!" 

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer.  We should note right from the start that the "heart" of the righteous is what is pondering his answer.  The godly man does not allow his mouth to run its own course without the management of the heart.  He wants to speak from the heart - not shoot from the hip.  The problem about shooting from the hip when we speak is the carnage that results from drive-by speaking.  This wise man thinks and considers what he is about to say.  He takes the time to meditate on God's Word before he speaks his own.  He discerns what is needed for the situation and speaks according to what God wants.  This godly man speaks as God directs in Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear."  Ultimately this man speaks those wonderful, edifying words that are like "apples of gold in settings of silver" which are words spoken at just the perfect time.

The wicked allows his mouth to have free reign in his life.  This is a dangerous thing because left to itself a mouth can be dangerous.  We read in the third chapter of James, "So the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.  See, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fireon fire!  And the tongue is a fire: the very world of iniquity, the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, ans set on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell."  These verses warn us in the starkest terms of the danger of allowing our mouths and tongues to gho unchecked in what they say.  When we do this it is inevitable that our mouth will "pour out evil things."  The heart of the wicked man will be fully expressed by his words.  The result of this will be much evil and pain in the world.  Consider how many horrible things started with evil words pouring out of a wicked man's mouth.  Think for a moment how Adolph Hitler mesmerized entire crowds in Germany by his wicked words.  Then consider what the end of his leadership brought to the world.  We may not ever do the damage of Hitler, but much harm can come from unwise, un-considered words. 

Precious ones, God wants us to think before we speak.  It will bring blessing to us - and will benefit those who are the recipients of our words.  May we submit what we say to our Lord every morning.  May we ask the Holy Spirit to bridle our tongues so that they do not speak of themselves.  May we surrender all we say for God's purposes and God's specific leadership so that they can truly edify those who hear them.

A prudent man conceals knowledge, But the heart of fools proclaims folly.  Proverbs 12:23

There are times when you know the right answer, but still it is better to just keep quiet.  Just because you know something is not sufficient reason that you should share it.  A wise man knows when to reveal his knowledge and when to conceal it as well.  There are several proverbs where God deals with how freely we should speak - even speak the things of God. 

Consider Daniel in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar.  Here was a very wise man - a godly man - and yet a man who often held his tongue while in the court of the king.  He could have been a spiritual know it all - and yet he was content to pray, to serve, and to wait for the moments that God gave him to speak.  He got them either due to a biblical principle that was about to be violated - or due to a need that presented itself in the kingdom.  Either way, he waited and walked with God until the moment he needed to speak.  What is so glorious is that when he spoke - he was the spiritual E. F. Hutton to the kingdom - and to the king himself. 

We can cheapen spiritual truth - and make it less effective in people's lives when we want to be the bible answer man for everyone around us.  Spiritual babbling can actually hinder more than it can help.  Another proverb states that a word spoke at the right time, in the right circumstances is like an apple of gold in a setting of silver.  Take our Lord Jesus Christ for example.  When the Pharisees came in John chapter 8 with the woman caught in adultery, He could have immediately spoken up with a scathing litany of words about their hypocrisy and condemning legalism.  Instead He simply bent down and wrote in the sand.  When it was time to speak He used an astounding economy of words.  "He who is without sin, cast the first stone."  Then he looked down again and continued writing in the sand.  The area cleared - and Jesus once again used a question that was as simple as can be - where are your accusers?  They had no answer - and He gave her the glorious truth that He did not condemn her - and that she should go her way and sin no more.  That is one of the most powerful passages of Scripture we have - and yet Jesus chose not to speak a great deal in it. 

The reason we should conceal knowledge is because any fool can speak.  The second half of this proverb tells us that the heart of fools proclaim folly.  Note that the fool's folly comes from his heart.  He is filled with foolishness and self at the core of his heart.  That is why when his mouth opens, foolishness comes out.  Jesus told us that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  My father used to say to me that I can keep my mouth shut and have people think I am wise, even if I am not.  But when I open my mouth when I shouldn't, I remove all doubt that I am not wise.  That is why we are told to measure our words carefully when we speak. 

The wise man considers when he is about to say.  He weighs his words to make sure that they have the greatest impact.  He also weights whether his words would be better left UNSAID.  That truly is wisdom.  As a personal note . . . I am a "talker" - which means I like to talk when given the opportunity.  I think this has become more of a habit as I grow older.  But as I seriously think about what God has said, I will have to reconsider my ways - and adopt a lifestyle that speaks less.  I will still talk - but at times I will need to weigh whether what I am going to say is of value or not.  Then I will have to weigh whether the timing is good enough to say that what I want to say NEEDS to be said.  Wisdom requires it - and therefore whatever discipline is necessary will be embraced.  One thing I know - it will do far more to respond to God in all this - than to continue flapping my gums - and filling the world with words it does not need.  

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.  Proverbs 12:22

God does not like lips that lie.  That might be because the ultimate adversary He has is called a liar and the father of lies.  It also might be because God speaks truth without any mixture of error any time He speaks.  God is absolutely opposed to lying, liars, and any form of deception.  He says in this proverb that he sees lying as an abominable act.  The devil believed and held to, and eventually stated a lie when he fell from heaven.  Since that time the adversary of God and our souls has attempted to build his own kingdom, one based upon lies and deceit.  These lies oppose God and all that He is.  That is why God finds ALL lying abominable.  Every lie is a damning thing, for it was the lie that brought our condemnation, and it is a lie that condemns anew every moment of every day.  Embrace a lie and you are embracing the devil and his program to bring you into the judgment of God.

God delights in the faithful.  It is because of God's faithfulness that we are saved.  It is because of how God held to the truth, even when it meant having to condemn His own Son for becoming the sin-bearer for mankind.  Being a faithful one means holding fast to God's truth, which is THE truth.  God delights in those who deal faithfully, because they are embracing His own character.  Think about it for a moment.  The devil lies to us wanting to get us to believe his lies so that we turn from God and His Word.  We trust the devil because he promises us happiness and pleasure.  The problem is that in the end his promises don't include the "fine print" of the judgment that awaits - along with the heartbreak and death that always come with sin.  Godly, wise men deal faithfully because they know God's truth and they carry within them God's character in the person of the Holy Spirit.  Therefore they live for the truth as well as live it out daily. 

Wisdom is living out the truth.  It is being faithful to God.  It is speaking faithful promises.  And ultimately it is sharing the ultimate faithfulness of God shown to us in the gospel.  This is the life in which God delights.  Wisdom is loving that life, living that life, and being an example of His faithfulness.

He who speaks truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit.  Proverbs 12:17

Today's proverb has a picture to paint for us about being a person who speaks truth and what is right, or a person who is deceitful and untrustworthy in what they say.  The picture that is painted for us is framed by the Hebrew word used for "speaking" that is mentioned first in this verse.  The word used here is the Hebrew word "puah" which means to breathe.  It refers to how we breathe out.  This is a word used in a poetic way in the Old Testament.  In the Song of Solomon it speaks of the day breathing.  This refers to how the shadows of morning flee at the appearance of the sun.  Here in Proverbs 12:17 it refers to the way that we speak - but not just in a specific situation.  It refers to our lifestyle - or - what kind of things come out of our mouths in every situation in life.  Of course what we see in the rest of the proverb is that we either speak truth or deceit. 

There are those who speak truth and what is right.  "Truth" is the word "emunah" which refers to something true and faithful.  The primary thing being communicated with this word is faithfulness.  Through the rest of the Bible the word speaks of character - God's in Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 33:4, 100:5, and 119:90 - and that of people in 2 Chronicles 19:9, Proverbs 12:22, and 28:20.  When someone is speaking truth - they are being faithful in what they say.  The whole proverb says that they are speaking faithfully - and what they speak is finally defined as "what is right."  What does all this mean in the end?  The faithful man or woman declares what is right.  The word for right is "tsedeq" which is the word that speaks of righteousness - or right by God's standard.  It is an ethical word that referred to God's justice and righteousness as represented by the Law of Moses - and by the reaffirmation of God's Word by the prophets.  Here, though, is how this works out for you and me in the 21st century. 

Situational ethics unfortunately rules the day in our world.  Everything is negotiable.  There is no absolute truth - except what you yourself are comfortable in holding - and even that only applies to yourself (except when you are uncomfortable with your own standards - and then you can change those too).  What is left is a society founded upon shifting sands.  But as the people of God - the people saved by His grace - we will stand out like brightly painted, fully lit up sore thumbs!  We are those who regardless of public opinion - hold faithfully to God's Word as our source of truth and what is right.  We not only believe this in our thinking - we also faithfully speak it out of our mouths.  In the midst of a world where the winds of change and compromise drive the public conscience wherever they blow - we are a biblical breath of fresh air when we speak.  To some we will be a breath of death - but to those who are being saved - it will be a breath of life to life. 

At this point I am going to say some things that will most likely offend people - yet they need to be said.  Too often a statement is made like the one above - and yet people will interpret it according to their "situational ethic" mindset.  Thus what is right once again is mired in personal opinion.  A faithful truth-teller will speak up when it comes to biblical ethics and righteousness.  That means that they will speak up about biblical sexuality.  Biblical sexuality is abstinence before heterosexual marriage - followed by faithfulness to one spouse in that heterosexual marriage until death parts them.  Thus a faithful truth-teller will oppose heterosexual immorality and homosexuality, as well as their off-shoots living together outside of marriage and homosexual marriage.  A faithful truth-teller will state that abortion is wrong - in all cases.  A faithful truth-teller will openly stand for racial harmony - and will view racism as evil and sinful.  A faithful truth-teller will state that we are to oppose greed and selfishness by giving to the poor - but will also say that providing for able bodied people who can work is wrong.  Everywhere God's Word makes an statement of ethical morals - the faithful truth-teller will stand - and will speak it.  And . . . just in case a person decides to speak the truth - but not speak it in love - the faithful truth-teller will remind them that the spirit in which you say something (i.e. not like a jerk - and with grace and mercy - yet saying what is true even if the truth itself is offensive) is as important as the truth itself. 

There is a second kind of wind that blows from the words that people speak.  It is the false witness who speaks deceit.  The false witness is the one who speaks lies and vanity.  The word is used of those who were false witnesses in a trial - who lied on the stand.  It refers to a person who says vain things and lives their life in vain.  There is little or no other purpose to their existance than to live for themselves and love themselves.  Their deciet is an intentional misleading of others by either distorting or withholding the truth from them.  Their deceit is evidenced by the fact that there IS absolute truth - but they will not state it or hold to it.  As offensive as some will take this - the false witness is the one who does not speak according to the ethical and moral standards held by God's Law and the entirety of Scripture.  There IS a right and wrong!  God gives it to us by His divine authority - and has revealed it to us in the Scriptures.  Not holding to this - or trying to twist it in any way - is being a false witness. 

When it comes to your words - what kind of breath flows from you throughout your day?  Are you one who breathes forth deceit.  Please understand that in our culture this person is the norm.  They breathe forth the lies of our immoral and biblically unethical society.  We hear them every day on the news - in our entertainment - everywhere.  You and I are to be a breath of fresh air.  They may not see it as fresh because they have been breathing in the sulfuric lies of the pit for a lifetime.  But to speak lovingly and biblically is to speak fresh, life-giving air to those all around you.  Speak the truth.  Speak faithfully.  Speak life-giving, fresh air to all with whom you come into contact!  Be a faithful truth-teller!

The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.   Proverbs 10:32

Our culture is coarsening.  I see it every day in the way that we talk.  The use of perverted language has grown a hundred fold in the last 20 years - and unfortunately - it looks like things are getting worse.  It would be one thing to see this among the lost because - well let's just admit it - they are lost.  But what I am seeing is that there is also a coarsening in how Christians speak.  Things that would have horrified us just 25 years ago - are now becoming more common in everyday conversation.  Before you think that I am taking the place of the ultra-righteous who is shocked at all the wicked sinners - I have noticed a coarsening of my own language - and have begun a concerted effort to speak in an acceptable manner before a holy God.

The righteous bring forth what is acceptable with their lips.  That means the things they say are acceptable.  At this point is would be good to define the word, acceptable.  Acceptable to Whom?   That is the question we need to answer.  Our society seems to think that acceptable to the current standards of society is the rule of the day.  By saying this I am not saying that their language equals that of the world, but rather that we set our idea of what is acceptable by a comparison with the world. Let me give you an example of what I am saying.  I want to put a disclaimer here - because I will have to use a word that is not acceptable to many to help illustrate my point.

The world's language is completely out of control.  The amount of foul language allowed on prime time television and movies is astounding.  When you consider that Rhett Butler's, "Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a "expletive," was met with shock and horror in the theaters of the day, you can see that we are out of control.  Frank Butler's remarks might not even merit a drop to a PG rating in our day.  Certainly his remarks would be shrugged off, even by Christians, in our day.  Yet, the sensibilities of that day were horrified by the outrageous language used.  Fast forward to today and we learn that men who are considered conservative Christian preachers are using worse language than Frank Butler from our pulpits.  Words I would have been reprimanded for saying out loud - are now widely accepted by Christian circles.  That is why we need to realize that having our lips bring forth what is acceptable means bringing forth what is acceptable to God. 

We should note that in just two verses God says that He is greatly offended by things which are perverse.  Here we read that while the godly man speaks what is acceptable - the wicked man says things that are perverse.  The idea of being perverted is not just a reference to those who speak sexually perverted things.  It goes further to include any way that God's ways are perverted - which means to twist or make them something that they are not.  To say that we can come to God based on our own works is to pervert the gospel.  To say that God is too loving to judge the wicked is perverting His holiness.  So we see that there are ways to pervert the truth God has reveled to us.  The wicked speak these things - and thus perversity comes out of their mouths.  That is why we not only need to address the foul language that comes from Christians with this verse, but we also need to address the ways people pervert the truth to make the gospel more palatable to the wicked. 

May God help us each day to have our language pleasing and acceptable to Him.  I will admit that the only reason I began to adopt some words and ways of expressing myself that were unacceptable was to look cool to younger people.  This is a horrible reason to let how you speak be coarsened.  We should seek to be holy as God is holy.  We should have a heart that desires to honor God in every conversation that we have with others.  As the Psalmist said, "May the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart be acceptable to the Lord."  Then and only then can we know that what our mouths bring forth is godly and acceptable to God Himself.

The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, But the perverted tongue will be cut out. Proverbs 10:31

One of the topics that the book of Proverbs touches on a great deal is that of our tongues and the benefit or damage that they can do.  Here we have another of those proverbs that counsel us on having a tongue that honors and glorifies God.

The mouth of the righteous is described here liks a fruitful tree.  The word "flows" is the Hebrew word "nub" which speaks of something that flourishes.  It means to bring forth or to bear fruit.  It is also used in the Old Testament to speak of someone who is experiencing prosperity.  We are told that the mouth of the righteous has an abundant harvest of wisdom.  The words that the righteous man speaks are like a tree laden with fruit.  That fruit when eaten will lead us to wise, godly choices.  The reason this is true is because men speak out of their mouths what resides in their hearts.  The righteous man can speak forth wisdom because the Word of God dwells in his heart.  Therefore as his heart gives his lips the substance of his words - those words will be in accordance with the Word of God.  Truly then, you will get wisdom from the things that he says.

Not only is the mouth of the godly man mentioned in this proverb, but also the perverted tongue as well. Perverse as used here means something deviated and distorted.  It describes deceptive and corrupt speech.  Here in Proverbs it refers to one who intentionally distorts what is straight and right.  Thus, this man is not sharing God's wisdom, but a perversion of it.  This kind of tongue will be cut out.  This may sound gruesome at first, but the idea is that of cutting something out of the ground.  It referred to uprooting a plant that was not productive - or one that was counter productive.  The picture that we have from this proverb is an agricultural one.  We have a mouth that is like a fruitful tree - and a tongue that is like a harmful weed.  One is a blessing, the other is a curse.  One will be welcomed as wisdom flows forth from it, while the other will be viewed as a weed that disrupts the production of a garden.  The difference between these two is very simple.  One comes from a man who loves with is right in the eyes of the Lord, while the other comes from a man who distorts what is right and true.  He does so because he values having his own desires fulfilled, rather than doing what is right and good for all those around him. 

The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of understanding.   Proverbs 10:21

What kind of mouth would you prefer to have?  Do you want a mouth that is a blessing to others - one that affords spiritual nourishment and strengthening?  Do you want a mouth that others will wait to hear - because of the life and the food that it brings to their soul?  There is a blessing that comes to those who seek the Lord - that makes their mouth a wonderful blessing to all who hear them.  But there are also those who lack understanding - and who not only do not offer life to others through what they say - they die for their lack of wisdom - and unfortunately lead others to the same fate.

The lips of the righteous feed many.  The idea here is that of a shepherd who tends a flock.  The Hebrew word used to speak of "feeding" others means to feed like a shepherd.  This is a man whose lips allow sheep to graze - he feeds the flock and the herd.  What is even more beautiful about this word is that it was used of others beside shepherds.  It was used of the way kings were to shepeherd God's people as in 2 Samuel 5:2 and 7:7.  It was used to speak of how God seeks to shepherd and feed His own people.  It was used of how a wise man feeds on wisdom, while a food feeds on folly.  This is the heart of a shepherd of men and women.  He wants to speak in such a way that it feeds the spiritual needs of his people.  This is the heart of a pastor - of a Bible teacher who desires for his lips to be a vehicle whereby God cares for and tends His church.  He speaks what is right in God's eyes.  His lips are the lips of the righteous - for he speaks righteousness - and seeks to teach men the only place where true righteousness can be found.  That is in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

The second half of this proverb speaks of those who, for want of wisdom, die.  The word used for "understanding," is leb in the Hebrew.  It means that this one lacks heart.  He has no heart for God, and therefore has no wisdom.  He has no desire for fellowship with God - therefore he has no grasp of what is right and good.  He has no desire for God's salvation - so he will only know the disappointment of seeing that his own salvation fall infinitely short of what is required to stand before God.  These men who lack heart will often lead others down their same path of destruction and damnation.  It is sad to watch them lead others to revel in what is only death. 

What a blessing it is to have a man of God whose lips are the lips of the righteous.  What a wonderful thing to have a godly man who teaches and who sets out a table for God's people to eat well.  It is not something to take for granted.  Scripture warns of a day when God's people will long for the Word, but will be unable to find it.  If you have one of these men whose lips are filled with God's righteousness - thank God for the gift He has given you.  Truly you will be fed - and ultimately the gospel such a man preaches will bring you life!

The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, The heart of the wicked is worth little. Proverbs 10:20

We are living in a time when people wonder what has any worth?  Recently there was a downgrade of our nation's ability to borrow money.  In addition to this we watch currencies worldwide go through something akin to a rollercoaster ride as they rise and fall.  So again we ask, "What is it that has any true worth?" 

We are told in today's proverb that the tongue of the righteous is like choice silver.  What a wonderfully wealthy thing a godly tongue is to those who hear it.  This man or woman speaks what is right.  That is why he or she is called "righteous."  They know what is right and speak what is right because they fill their mind with what is right.  They know the Scriptures and speak what they say as their advice.  What is this worth?  It is worth choice silver.  The phrase used here describes silver that has been refined many times over so that it is free from any impurities.  That describes the words that come forth from the tongue of the righteous.  They are trustworthy words.  They are ideas and counsel that has been tried in the furnace of affliction and tested over many years.  Therefore they are also words that will stand in any situation.

When we speak of choice silver we need to relate it to situations in today's currency market.  The commodities of gold and silver are skyrocketing in value because they are what is called solid assets.  They are gaining value because of the unsteadiness of paper currency today.  Money printed on paper is called "fiat" money.  It is not worth anything intrinsically.  Unless the government that prints it has sound financial principles as well as true assets to back the paper money, it is not worthy the paper on which it is printed.  Thus, when governments do foolish things like sinking themselves in an endless ocean of debt - their paper money becomes worthless.  It is in times like these that silver and gold will show its true value.  It will stand when all the paper money fails.  So is the speech of the godly, righteous tongue.  Their words will stand when all the theories and ideas of man come crashing to the ground. 

Let's look at why other words are worthless.  The proverb tells us that the tongue of the righteous is as choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is worthy little.  The words of some are worthless because they come from a wicked heart.  This is the heart of one who shuns the grace of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They choose instead to trust themselves.  There is only one problem with this scenario - the heart of the fallen is wicked.  If left to themselves the unsaved will eventually come up with answers to our problems.  Their answers will not involve God - but will turn increasingly to the flesh and the world system for their deliverance.  They will call evil good and good evil in their quest for a self-oriented salvation.  That salvation will only be an empty cistern of powerless promises. 

Oh that God would raise up many in the church who will hold fast to the Scriptures and to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Then and only then will she be able to send into this world an army of silver-tongued saints who can offer this world what it truly needs.  They need the truth.  They need the facts about their sin.  They need the only way a man can stand righteous before a holy God.  They need the gospel of Jesus Christ - and the pure preaching and teaching of the Word of God.  May God turn us from wicked hearts captivated by sin - to the foundry of God where, forged in the daily study of the Word of God under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit, we can watch God grant to us "tongues of choice silver."

He who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool.  Proverbs 10:18

One might think on the first reading of this proverb that God is encouraging those who have hatred to let their mouths voice it openly.  But you need to remember that many of the proverbs start with a basic statement - and then that statement is explained with an added comment that further defines it.  That is the way to understand the proverbs.  If we do not read them this way - it is easy to grab a partial proverb and make it say something it was never meant to say.

What we have here is a proverb about hidden hatred later escaping through slander.  The first part of this proverb speaks of one who is concealing their hatred by saying things they do not believe.  An example of this is someone who says nice things or supportive things of someone when they are around that person.  Inwardly they despise this person - but they do not allow their hatred to be expressed when around them.  But do not be deceived by their lying lips - because deep within them they are churning with a hatred that will surface in time.

Their hatred surfaces in what is said in the second part of this proverb.  They begin to spread slander.  They will not speak openly about their hatred of a person, a viewpoint, a decision, etc.  But later they will begin a slander campaign to express their hatred.  Put very plainly - they won't tell someone openly they hate them - but in private and with others they will let their hatred fly by slandering them often. 

The one who does this is a fool.  The Scriptures says that it is better to openly rebuke someone than to secretly slander them.  If there is a biblical issue that needs to be addressed, then address it privately with the person.  If there is a view that needs to be opposed - then oppose it where a debate of ideas can be had.  If there is a decision that is wrong - then openly state that it is wrong.  To allow a hatred to build up in our hearts is not just foolish - it is dangerous.  In time it will surface in slanderous gossip.  We WILL eventually have our hatred come out - and when it does - it will not be pretty. 

You may not like someone who openly confronts you - who rebukes and questions a view you have taken - or who disagrees with you publically.  But one thing is for sure.  You have far more respect for someone who does this, then for someone who speaks open words of support - but follows them up with slanderous gossip when you are no longer around.  Such a man is a fool - and his actions will come back to roost eventually.  Speak the truth in love - and if you disagree with someone and do not feel God wants you to speak out - then love them by interceding for them.  Hatred, gossip, and slander has NEVER helped any situation where it was used.  It has only made for fools and for deep hurt by those who have been injured by it.

On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found, But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.  Wise men store up knowledge, But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.   Proverbs 10:13-14

A godly mouth can be a great blessing to anyone who has one granted to him by the grace of God.  Such a mouth, though given by God, must be disciplined to follow Him only - and not the foolishness of the natural man. 

The wisdom of God is found on a certain kind of man.  He is called a discerning man.  The Hebrew word used here is "bin" and it speaks of someone who through the use of the Scriptures is able to determine the difference between what is of God and what is not.  This discerning heart and mind instructs the lips of the wise man.  We learn later in verse 14 that this man stores up knowledge.  This knowledge is a practical knowing of God and of the world that is around him.  Thus this wise man instructs his mouth with this knowledge.  He learns to know much, but not always speak what he knows.  He has learned that he can NOT say things and be a blessing.  Thus he seeks to quell within himself words and statements that will unnecessaily disburb the peace in relationships.  Many an argument and fight could be prevented if one or the other of the two combatants would have practiced this wisdom.  They would keep their words to themselves - knowing that sharing their "knowledge" would be done more from pride than from love.  We know from the New Testament that knowledge puffs up - but love edifies.  We can share all our knowledge - and by doing so cause a disturbance as others react to our pride.  The wise man stores up knowledge within - and only brings that knowledge out at the direction of the Holy Spirit - Who will direct him to use that knowledge to build up and encourage others. 

We are also told of the fool - and his mouth.  These two verses go together because they speak of the speech of one - and then the consequences of the other.  The next verse reverses this order - trading the wise man for the fool in his speech - and the fool for the wise man in the reward or retribution that results.  The consequences of the fool is a rod for his back.  His words are the source of his punishment - for they evidence his foolishness and lack of regard for what is right.  A proverb from the Talmud expresses this wonderfully when we read there, "that which a wise man gains by a hint, a fool only obtains by a club."  The wise man learns - instructs his mouth and heart with that wisdom - and therefore avoids problems and public discipline.  The fool chooses to let his mouth run - and with that overactive mouth - ruin comes to him. 

Biblically we can remember the difference between Solomon and his son, Rehoboam.  Solomon began his reign seeking God and requesting wisdom from Him.  His son Rehoboam had an opportunity to win over the people - but chose the foolish counsel of his friends.  That led him to speak harsh, unkind, oppressive words to the people.  In the end he lost all but one tribe - which God granted to him because of His promise to David.  But how the foolish mouth granted him much destruction and difficulty.  The wise mouth, though, was blessed in many wonderful ways.  So take the time to listen - and allow God's wisdom to sink deep enough into your heart so that it instructs your mouth on what to say.  Doing this promotes blessing.