Click to Play
0 plays
Sign in to like or dislike songs
“The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,
and adds learning to his lips.”
— Proverbs 16:23 (NKJV)
“A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
— Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV)
These two verses form a divine pattern for speech. They show us that our words are not accidental; they are the outflow of an inner condition. In the kingdom of God, words are never neutral. Words can heal or wound, build or destroy, bless or curse.
The song lyrics simply repeat the Scripture:
> The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,
> and adds learning to his lips.
> A gentle answer turns away wrath,
> but a harsh word stirs up anger.
In this repetition there is a spiritual emphasis. When God repeats something, He is underlining it. He is saying: “Attend to this. Your life depends on it.”
In Scripture, the tongue is one of the central battlegrounds of spiritual warfare. James says:
> “If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”
> — James 3:2
So the question is: How does the wise heart govern the mouth? And how does a gentle answer neutralize wrath? The Word of God gives us the pattern.
---
These proverbs come from the book of Proverbs, largely associated with Solomon, to whom God gave exceptional wisdom.
> “And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore.”
> — 1 Kings 4:29
Proverbs is not abstract philosophy. It is wisdom for daily life—work, relationships, money, speech, decision-making. In the Hebrew mindset, wisdom (ḥokmah) is not mere theory. It is skill in living under the fear of the Lord.
When Proverbs 16 and 15 were written, Israel was a covenant nation called to demonstrate God’s character among the nations. Their speech was to reflect the God they served. Ungoverned words led to strife, division, and bloodshed. Wise words preserved peace, justice, and community.
Proverbs 16 falls in a section dealing much with the heart, plans, and words of man in the light of God’s sovereignty. Proverbs 15 deals repeatedly with the tongue, the heart, and the Lord’s evaluation of our inner life.
You must picture an Israelite living in a close-knit community. Words spoken in the gate, in the home, in the marketplace, had real social and spiritual consequences. There was no “private” speech. Words traveled, shaped reputations, caused quarrels, reconciled enemies. God’s wisdom addressed that reality.
So when we read:
> “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth…” (Prov. 16:23)
and:
> “A soft answer turns away wrath…” (Prov. 15:1)
we are listening to God’s training manual for how a covenant person should speak in a fallen, often hostile world.
---
To grasp the depth of these verses, we look briefly at two key Hebrew terms.
### 3.1 “Heart” – *lēv* (לֵב)
“The heart of the wise instructs his mouth…”
The Hebrew word lēv (heart) does not mean just emotions. It is the inner center of a person—thoughts, will, motives, reasoning, and desires. It is the control-room of life.
> “Keep your heart (*lēv*) with all diligence,
> for out of it spring the issues of life.”
> — Proverbs 4:23
So when Scripture says, “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,” it means that the whole inner life—mind, will, and desires—governs the tongue. Speech is a heart-issue. What you repeatedly say is a revelation of your inner condition.
Jesus confirms this:
> “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
> — Matthew 12:34
The lyrics are telling us: If you want right words, you must have a wise heart. The problem is not primarily in the tongue, but deeper—in the heart.
### 3.2 “Soft/Gentle Answer” – *rakh* (רַךְ)
“A gentle answer turns away wrath…”
The word translated “gentle” or “soft” is rakh, meaning soft, tender, delicate, not harsh or hard. This is the opposite of hardness, roughness, or severity.
So this is not simply “nice” speech. It is speech intentionally moderated, controlled, and tender in tone. It is the opposite of reactionary, sharp, self-assertive speech.
The verse does not say a “clever” answer, nor a “strong” answer, but a soft answer. What turns away wrath is not intellectual superiority, but meekness exercised in the tongue.
This aligns with Jesus:
> “Blessed are the meek,
> for they shall inherit the earth.”
> — Matthew 5:5
Meekness is strength under control. A gentle answer is verbal meekness in action. The song’s repetition presses this truth into our consciousness: A gentle answer is a spiritual weapon against anger.
---
We now take the key lines of the lyrics and open them in the light of Scripture.
### 4.1 “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth…”
Notice the order: heart → wisdom → instruction → mouth.
This verse presents an inner process:
1. The person is wise (has received and walks in God’s wisdom).
2. That wisdom resides in the heart (inner life).
3. The heart then instructs (Hebrew idea: gives teaching, discipline, guidance) to the mouth.
4. The mouth does not lead; it follows the trained heart.
Many people invert this order. Their mouth leads, their heart follows. They speak first, then think. Scripture teaches the reverse: the heart must govern the mouth.
This is deeply connected with spiritual warfare. James describes the tongue:
> “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity… it is set on fire by hell.”
> — James 3:6
An ungoverned tongue becomes an instrument of hell. A wise heart, saturated with the Word of God, must instruct the mouth so that the tongue becomes an instrument of righteousness.
> “Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God…”
> — Romans 6:13
Your tongue is a “member”. You either yield it to the Holy Spirit or to the flesh and, behind the flesh, to demonic influence.
#### How does the heart instruct the mouth?
> “Your word I have hidden in my heart,
> that I might not sin against You.”
> — Psalm 119:11
> “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
> — Proverbs 9:10
> “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
> keep watch over the door of my lips.”
> — Psalm 141:3
When the heart is wise, it acts like a teacher to the mouth. It says, “No, do not say that.” Or, “Say this, but say it gently.” This is internal discipline.
### 4.2 “And adds learning to his lips.”
The wise heart not only restrains the mouth; it equips the mouth. “Adds learning” suggests a process of growth. A wise person is constantly being upgraded in speech.
Proverbs 10:19 says:
> “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
> but he who restrains his lips is wise.”
But the goal is not silence for its own sake. The goal is edifying speech:
> “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
> — Ephesians 4:29
When the heart is filled with biblical wisdom, the lips become a channel of grace. This is not natural. It is the result of learning—retraining our speech patterns in line with God’s Word.
Many believers need to accept that their speech must go through a process of discipleship. Gossip, criticism, sarcasm, exaggeration, negative confession—these must be unlearned. Instruction must be added to the lips.
### 4.3 “A gentle answer turns away wrath…”
This is a spiritual law. Like cause and effect. A gentle answer has a God-ordained power to deflect anger.
The verse speaks about wrath from another person directed at you. In that moment you stand at a crossroads:
The flesh says: “I will answer in the same tone. They deserve it.” But the Word says: “A soft answer turns away wrath.”
This is not weakness. It is spiritual strength. To respond gently when provoked is impossible in the flesh. It requires the cross at work in your life.
> “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
> — Galatians 5:24
Wrath is contagious. Harshness multiplies harshness. The harsh word “stirs up anger.” The Hebrew idea is like stirring sediment at the bottom of a pool. What was resting gets agitated. Many relationships are damaged not by the original problem, but by the harsh words that followed.
Jesus faced the ultimate injustice and yet:
> “When He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
> — 1 Peter 2:23
Christ’s response under provocation is the model. Soft answers are not merely social skills; they are manifestations of Christ’s nature in us.
### 4.4 “But a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Solomon presents a sharp contrast. Words are not neutral; they either turn away anger or stir it up.
The “harsh word” (literally grievous, painful, harsh) has several characteristics:
> “By pride comes nothing but strife…”
> — Proverbs 13:10
> “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
> — James 1:19
Many believers open doors to oppression through unrepented, harsh words—especially in the home. The harsh word not only stirs up human anger, it can stir up spiritual disturbance.
Jesus warned:
> “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”
> — Matthew 12:36
This is why Solomon repeats such themes. God will judge words. Words either cooperate with the Holy Spirit or with the enemy.
### 4.5 The Repetition in the Lyrics
The song repeats the two verses twice:
> The heart of the wise instructs his mouth…
> A gentle answer turns away wrath…
This is in harmony with a biblical principle. Repetition is a form of emphasis:
> “God has spoken once,
> twice I have heard this:
> that power belongs to God.”
> — Psalm 62:11
The repetition functions as meditation. By repeating, you are training your own heart. You are saying to yourself again and again: “I must let my heart instruct my mouth. I must answer gently.”
As this is repeated, the Holy Spirit uses it to renew your mind and transform your reactions.
---
We now move from doctrine to practice. The wisdom of God must become habit in speech.
### Step 1: Acknowledge the Root – The Heart Must Be Changed
First, we must accept that the real problem is not only the tongue but the heart. Jesus said:
> “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
> — Matthew 12:34
If your speech is often harsh, critical, or angry, that reveals an inner condition. The solution is not mere self-control at the surface, but repentance at the root.
A practical step:
Receive the cleansing of the blood of Jesus for sins of speech:
> “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
> — 1 John 1:9
### Step 2: Submit Your Tongue to the Lordship of Christ
Second, we must consciously yield our tongue to Christ as Lord.
Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice. That includes the tongue. You can do this deliberately:
This is an act of consecration. It aligns with Romans 6:13. Where you have used your tongue as a weapon against others, you must renounce it and yield it afresh to God.
### Step 3: Store Up Wisdom in the Heart
Third, we must fill our heart with the Word, especially Scriptures concerning speech. If the heart is empty of truth, it cannot instruct the mouth rightly.
Some key passages to memorize and meditate on:
Meditation in these verses will reeducate your inner man. As the Word goes deeper, the heart becomes wise, and the wise heart then instructs the mouth.
### Step 4: Practice the “Holy Pause” and the Gentle Answer
Fourth, we must cultivate a new reflex in moments of conflict.
When confronted with anger:
1. Pause – Refuse to answer immediately in the flesh. Take a brief moment inwardly to turn to the Lord: “Holy Spirit, help me answer gently.”
2. Lower your tone – Deliberately speak more softly than the other person. This is not manipulation; it is obedience to Proverbs 15:1.
3. Choose words that de-escalate – You can say, for example:
You are not denying truth or compromising righteousness. You are choosing a method—gentleness—that aligns with God’s wisdom.
Over time, the “holy pause” becomes a habit. The wise heart has time to instruct the mouth before you speak.
---
### Proclamation (Confession of Faith)
Speak this aloud:
> “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
> God has given me a new heart in Christ.
> I submit my heart and my tongue to the Lordship of Jesus.
> Out of the abundance of a wise heart, I will speak words of life.
> A gentle answer turns away wrath.
> By the grace of God, my answer will be gentle, not harsh.
> I renounce harsh, angry, and destructive words.
> My lips will speak wisdom.
> My mouth will impart grace to those who hear.
> The Holy Spirit is the guard over my mouth.
> The words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
> will be acceptable in the sight of the Lord,
> my strength and my Redeemer.
> In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
### Prayer
Lord God,
You are the God of truth, and all Your words are pure. I confess that my words have often fallen short of Your standard. I have spoken harshly. I have stirred up anger. I have used my tongue in ways that grieved Your Spirit.
I ask You now to forgive me for every sinful word—every angry outburst, every cutting remark, every word of unbelief or bitterness. Let the blood of Jesus cleanse my heart and my mouth.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Fill my heart with Your wisdom, with Your Word, with the fear of the Lord. Let my heart become wise, so that it will faithfully instruct my mouth.
Holy Spirit, set a guard over my lips. In moments of provocation, remind me of Your Word: “A soft answer turns away wrath.” Empower me to choose the gentle answer, to refuse the harsh word, and to respond with the meekness of Christ.
Father, I present my tongue to You as an instrument of righteousness. Use my words to heal, to build, to restore, and to reconcile. Let my speech be seasoned with grace and truth, that Jesus may be glorified in everything I say.
I receive Your help, and I thank You for the work You are doing in my heart and in my mouth. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
No more songs available