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“A gentle answer quiets anger, but harsh words stir it up.
The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing,
but the mouth of a fool gushes out foolishness.”
(Proverbs 15:1–2, NLT)
Let us look at what the Word of God says. In these two short verses we have a spiritual law, a divine principle, that governs human relationships, spiritual warfare, and even the condition of our own hearts. Scripture reveals that words are not neutral. Words are either instruments of life or instruments of death, tools of wisdom or weapons of destruction.
The central theme in this “word of wisdom” is the power of the tongue:
Many believers struggle in relationships, in homes full of tension, in churches marked by division, and even in their own inner life—tormented by accusations, self-hatred, and confusion—because they have never learned God’s laws concerning the tongue.
Proverbs 18:21 declares:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 15:1–2 takes this same principle and applies it specifically to conflict, anger, and the contrast between wisdom and foolishness. What we see here is not a suggestion, but a revelation of a spiritual key: your words can either disarm anger or feed it; your tongue can make truth attractive or make folly overflowing.
The primary human author of Proverbs is Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. Scripture testifies that Solomon was given exceptional wisdom by God.
1 Kings 4:29–30:
“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight… Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.”
Proverbs is not a collection of random sayings. It is divinely inspired instruction for living skillfully under the rule of God. The Hebrew word for “proverbs” (mishlei) speaks of comparisons, concise statements of truth, practical moral and spiritual guidance.
In Proverbs 1:2–4, the purpose is stated:
Proverbs 15 belongs to a portion of the book where Solomon contrasts the wise and the foolish, the righteous and the wicked, especially in their speech and attitudes. The whole chapter alternates between:
So when we read Proverbs 15:1–2, we stand in the royal court of Solomon, but more importantly under the authority of the King of kings, receiving training in how to rule our own spirit, our tongue, and our relationships.
The situation behind these verses is universal: anger, conflict, misunderstanding, pride. These are not theoretical cases. God addresses what happens in homes, in workplaces, in marriages, in churches. Every time someone is angry with you, every time tension builds in a conversation, Proverbs 15:1–2 gives you a divine strategy.
Let us consider two key Hebrew words that open up the depth of this passage.
### 1) “Gentle” – רַךְ (rakh)
“A gentle answer quiets anger…” (Proverbs 15:1)
The Hebrew word translated “gentle” is *rakh*. It has the sense of “soft, tender, delicate, mild.” It is used of:
The opposite of *rakh* is hard, rough, severe. So when Scripture says a “gentle answer,” it is not merely speaking of volume (quiet versus loud), but of quality: an answer that is soft, mild, tender, not cutting, not abrasive.
This shows us that biblical gentleness is not weakness. It is strength under control. It is choosing not to retaliate, not to answer in like manner, even when provoked. It is a reflection of the nature of Christ, who said of Himself:
“I am gentle and humble in heart…” (Matthew 11:29)
To answer with *rakh* is to answer in the spirit of Christ.
### 2) “Answer” – מַעֲנֶה (ma‘aneh)
“A gentle answer quiets anger…”
The Hebrew *ma‘aneh* means “answer, response, reply.” It comes from a root that means “to respond, to testify.” The important insight is this: the emphasis is on *your* response, not on the other person’s provocation.
The Scripture does not say, “A gentle person will never experience anger from others.” It says, when anger comes, your *response*—your *ma‘aneh*—can either quiet it or stir it up.
This means your tongue is not merely a reaction to other people’s words; it is a spiritual instrument that can redirect the entire atmosphere. You are not a victim of someone else’s anger; you are a steward of your own answer.
### 3) “Gushes out” – יַבִּיעַ (yabbia‘)
“…but the mouth of a fool gushes out foolishness.” (Proverbs 15:2)
The verb *yabbia‘* means “to pour forth, bubble up, gush out, spew.” It gives the picture of something uncontrolled, like a spring overflowing, or water bursting out. Applied to a fool’s speech, it means:
There is no control mechanism. No inner governor. No reverence for God. The fool’s heart is full of folly, and his mouth simply spills it everywhere.
This tells us that controlling the tongue is not simply about behavior; it is about the condition of the heart. Jesus said:
“…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34)
So when the fool “gushes out” foolishness, the problem is not only his lips; it is his inner life.
Let us now move through the themes and phrases in these lyrics.
> “A gentle answer quiets anger,
> but harsh words stir it up.”
### A. “A gentle answer quiets anger”
This is not human psychology; this is divine wisdom. God is revealing a spiritual mechanism: anger is like a fire; words are like fuel or water.
The word “quiets” (Hebrew *yashiv*) also means “turns back, returns, brings back.” A gentle answer has the power to turn anger back from its course, to reverse its movement. The devil wants anger to escalate. God gives you the authority, by your tongue, to reverse the escalation.
James 1:19–20 confirms this pattern:
“Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”
Notice the order:
1. Quick to hear
2. Slow to speak
3. Slow to anger
When you are quick to hear and slow to speak, your answer tends to be gentle. You take time to listen, to weigh your words. And such an answer will quiet anger.
This is a form of spiritual warfare. When anger rises in a room, there are often unseen forces at work—spirits of strife, contention, division (see Galatians 5:19–21). The devil loves to sow discord. But a believer, walking in the Spirit, can take authority over that atmosphere by choosing a gentle answer.
Romans 12:21:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
You do not overcome anger with more anger. You overcome anger with meekness, humility, and controlled speech.
### B. “…but harsh words stir it up.”
The “harsh words” are literally “painful words, grievous words.” Words that wound, injure, or are hard in tone and content. These words “stir up” anger, like a stick stirring a fire, making it flare.
This is another spiritual law: harsh words are never neutral. They do not “blow off steam”; they amplify the heat. This is why many arguments spiral out of control:
Proverbs 29:22:
“An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.”
When you yield your tongue to anger, you are moving into dangerous territory. You open the door to further sin, and often to demonic influence. Ephesians 4:26–27 warns:
“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”
Unrestrained anger expressed through the tongue gives Satan an opportunity—a foothold in your home, in your relationships, even in your own inner life.
Now the second half of the lyric:
> “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing,
> but the mouth of a fool gushes out foolishness.”
### C. “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing”
The “tongue of the wise” is contrasted with the “mouth of the fool.” The wise person does not only possess knowledge; he knows how to present it. The Hebrew conveys the idea that he “adorns,” “beautifies,” or “makes good” knowledge.
Some people may have correct doctrine but present it in such a harsh, proud, or dull way that it becomes unattractive. The wise person speaks truth in such a way that it is desirable, accessible, and winsome.
Paul expresses the same principle in Colossians 4:5–6:
“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
Wise speech presents knowledge in a way that people can receive. It does not compromise truth, but it tempers truth with love.
Ephesians 4:15:
“…speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Truth without love can crush. Love without truth can deceive. The tongue of the wise holds both together.
### D. “But the mouth of a fool gushes out foolishness”
Notice the contrast: the wise *make knowledge appealing*; the fool simply *gushes* whatever is inside. There is no discernment:
Proverbs 29:11:
“A fool always loses his temper, but a wise person holds it back.”
In Hebrew, it literally says, “A fool *lets out* all his spirit.” He empties everything, no restraint. The wise keep their spirit under control.
Jesus gave a very solemn warning about idle and foolish speech:
Matthew 12:36–37:
“I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they will give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
A fool treats words as cheap. He throws them around. He jokes about holy things. He speaks when he should be silent. He multiplies words when he should be listening. But God weighs every word.
Proverbs 10:19:
“When there are many words, wrongdoing is unavoidable, but one who restrains his lips is wise.”
Behind foolish speech is a foolish heart—a heart not submitted to the fear of the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 states:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…”
If you truly fear the Lord, you will fear to speak lightly, you will fear to wound others carelessly, you will fear to let your tongue run loose in anger or pride.
So these two verses together paint a portrait:
And God says: every believer must choose which pattern to follow.
This truth must not remain theoretical. Scripture is given to transform how we live, speak, and respond. Let us consider some practical steps.
### 1) First, we must repent of sinful speech
Before we can speak as the wise, we must acknowledge where we have spoken as fools. Repentance is not vague regret. It is specific turning.
Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you:
1 John 1:9 promises:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Name those sins of speech. Confess them as sin—not “personality,” not “culture,” not “just how I am.” Ask the blood of Jesus to cleanse you. Where possible, seek reconciliation with those you have wounded.
### 2) Second, we must submit our tongue to the Lordship of Christ
In Romans 6:13 Paul says:
“…present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
Your tongue is a “member.” It can be a weapon for sin, or an instrument for righteousness. Present it to God deliberately.
Say, in prayer: “Lord Jesus, I submit my tongue to You. Let my mouth be Your instrument. Let my words align with Your Word.”
Remember James 3:8:
“…no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.”
No human can tame the tongue in their own strength. Only the Holy Spirit, ruling in your heart, can control your mouth. So the real battle is not only at the lips—it is at the throne of your heart. Who rules there? Self, or Christ?
### 3) Third, we must train ourselves in gentle answers
Gentleness is not automatic. It is cultivated. You can train yourself, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to respond differently.
Very practically:
Proverbs 15:28 says:
“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”
The righteous *ponder* how to answer. They think before they speak. They choose their words with the fear of God.
You can even pre-train your responses, for instance:
These are gentle answers. They do not promise you will never face continued anger, but they obey God’s law and give the Holy Spirit room to work.
### 4) Fourth, we must fill our hearts with God’s Word
The fool gushes out what fills his heart—folly. If you want wise words to come out, you must fill your heart with wisdom. That wisdom is in the Word of God.
Colossians 3:16:
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you…”
As you meditate on Scripture, it renews your mind (Romans 12:2), changes the way you think and feel, and therefore changes how you speak. You cannot speak like Christ if you do not think like Christ. You cannot think like Christ if you neglect His Word.
Make a decision:
This is how you cooperate with the Holy Spirit in transforming your speech.
### Proclamation
Let us now make a confession of faith based on Proverbs 15:1–2. Say it out loud, deliberately:
“I proclaim that death and life are in the power of my tongue.
According to God’s Word, a gentle answer quiets anger.
By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit,
I choose to give gentle answers, not harsh words.
My tongue will be the tongue of the wise.
I make knowledge appealing by speaking truth in love.
I renounce foolish, careless, and angry speech.
My mouth will not gush out foolishness.
I submit my tongue to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
My words will be instruments of peace,
tools of wisdom, and carriers of life—
for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom.
Amen.”
### Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the Word made flesh. You never sinned in word, You never spoke foolishness, You never answered in the flesh. I come to You and confess that I have often sinned with my tongue— in anger, in harshness, in pride, in foolish talk.
I ask You to forgive me and cleanse me with Your precious blood. Holy Spirit, tame my tongue by ruling in my heart. Write Proverbs 15:1–2 deep within me. Teach me to answer gently, even under pressure. Make my tongue the tongue of the wise. Let my words turn back anger, not stir it up. Let my speech make the knowledge of God attractive to those who hear.
I present my mouth to You as an instrument of righteousness. Put a guard over my lips. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
I ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
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