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“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 complete spiritual principle:
Scripture shows that words are never neutral. Jesus said:
> “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
> — Matthew 12:34
Your words are the public revelation of your hidden inner life. If we desire wisdom in our words, we must deal with the heart. If we desire peace instead of strife, we must submit our tongue to the discipline of the Holy Spirit.
These proverbs show us that God has given us a powerful instrument – our tongue. Every believer must learn to bring that instrument under the government of the Word of God and the Spirit of God.
The book of Proverbs is largely attributed to Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. He was given extraordinary wisdom by God:
> “Behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart…
> — 1 Kings 3:12
Proverbs is not theory. It is God’s practical wisdom for daily life – relationships, speech, money, integrity, work, leadership. These verses are part of a larger section (Proverbs 10–22) where Solomon lays out short, concentrated sayings that contrast the wise and the foolish.
### Context of Proverbs 16:23
Proverbs 16 deals much with:
In verse 23, we are told how wisdom inside a person affects what comes out of his mouth:
> “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth,
> And adds learning to his lips.”
This is not about a quick tip on communication. This is about an inner life that governs an outer voice.
### Context of Proverbs 15:1
Chapter 15 contrasts the wise and the foolish, especially in terms of speech and attitude:
Right at the beginning of the chapter we have the principle of verbal conflict:
> “A soft answer turns away wrath,
> But a harsh word stirs up anger.”
This is a spiritual law as real as gravity. If you sow harsh words, you reap anger. If you sow gentle words, you disarm wrath. The Holy Spirit is teaching us how to answer in moments of tension, accusation, or conflict.
Solomon speaks as a king, a judge, a father, and a teacher. He has seen quarrels ruin relationships, words start wars, and rash answers destroy destinies. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he gives us God’s wisdom on how to use our mouths as instruments of life, not death.
Let us look at two key expressions: “instructs” (Proverbs 16:23) and “soft answer” (Proverbs 15:1).
### 1) “Instructs” – יַשְׂכִּיל (*yaskil*)
“The heart of the wise instructs his mouth…”
— Proverbs 16:23
The Hebrew verb here is שָׂכַל (*sakal*), in the form *yaskil*, often translated:
It carries the idea of practical, successful wisdom. This is not merely intellectual knowledge; it is wisdom that leads to right action and right outcomes.
So we could render the verse:
> “The heart of the wise makes his mouth act wisely,
> and causes understanding to be added to his lips.”
This implies:
This shows us that spiritual maturity includes training our tongue through a renewed heart.
### 2) “Soft answer” – מַעֲנֶה־רַךְ (*ma‘ăneh rakh*)
“A soft answer turns away wrath…”
— Proverbs 15:1
Two key words:
*Rakh* is used of:
The idea is not weak or compromising, but gentle, mild, non-aggressive. The “soft answer” is a controlled, measured response that refuses to mirror the anger confronting it.
So we might say:
> “A controlled, gentle reply turns away wrath,
> but a painful, harsh word stirs up anger.”
The Hebrew paints a picture of a gentle tone that deflects anger, like a soft cloth that absorbs a blow instead of striking back.
This deepens the lyrics’ meaning: it is not just about what we say, but *how* we say it – the spirit, tone, and attitude behind the words.
The lyrics repeat two lines from these proverbs:
> 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.
This repetition is biblical. God often repeats truth to impress it upon our hearts. Let us take each theme.
### A. “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth”
This verse teaches a divine order:
1. Heart – the inner life, motives, attitudes.
2. Mouth – the instrument that expresses the heart.
3. Learning – what is added to the lips through discipline and growth.
#### 1) The heart is the source
In Hebrew thought, the heart (*lev*) is not merely emotion. It is:
Jesus confirms this:
> “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good;
> and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.
> For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
> — Luke 6:45
So, the quality of your words is the direct result of the condition of your heart. If you want different words, you need a different heart.
#### 2) Wisdom in the heart trains the mouth
“The heart of the wise instructs his mouth…”
This implies a process:
This is the opposite of impulsive, reactive speech. It is governed speech.
James describes the uncontrolled tongue:
> “The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity… it defiles the whole body… and is set on fire by hell.”
> — James 3:6
But the heart of the wise does not allow hell to set the tongue on fire. It yields the tongue to the Holy Spirit. It lets the Word of God dwell richly in the heart so that the mouth becomes an instrument of blessing.
#### 3) “Adds learning to his lips”
The phrase indicates growth in speech. The wise person does not speak the same way year after year. He adds discipline, knowledge, understanding, restraint.
Psalm 141:3 gives us the appropriate prayer:
> “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
> Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
To “add learning” means:
The Holy Spirit becomes the *inner instructor* of the heart, and the heart becomes the instructor of the mouth.
### B. “A gentle answer turns away wrath”
Here the focus shifts from source (heart) to effect (impact on others).
#### 1) Words can deflect or multiply wrath
“A gentle answer turns away wrath.”
“Turns away” here suggests deflecting, diverting, redirecting. Wrath is coming toward you. How you answer will either absorb and defuse it, or intensify and magnify it.
Jesus said:
> “Blessed are the peacemakers,
> For they shall be called sons of God.”
> — Matthew 5:9
A gentle answer makes peace, not by compromise of truth, but by the manner in which truth is communicated. This is consistent with New Testament instruction:
> “A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all,
> able to teach, patient,
> in humility correcting those who are in opposition…”
> — 2 Timothy 2:24–25
The gentle answer is not silence. It is not avoidance. It is a controlled, Spirit-led response that aims at restoration, not victory in an argument.
#### 2) “But a harsh word stirs up anger”
Here we have another spiritual law: like produces like in the realm of anger. Harshness provokes more anger. This is why many conflicts escalate. The flesh responds to attack with counter-attack, and the cycle intensifies:
Proverbs 29:22 confirms:
> “An angry man stirs up strife,
> And a furious man abounds in transgression.”
Harsh words are often rooted in pride, resentment, or unhealed wounds in the heart. The answer is not merely to “try harder” to be nice, but to allow the Holy Spirit to deal with the inner roots.
#### 3) Jesus as our model
Look at how Jesus responded under provocation:
> “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
He did speak the truth, at times very directly, but never from personal irritation or wounded ego. Even when rebuking, He spoke from perfect alignment with the Father’s will.
We are called to follow this pattern. The gentle answer is not human politeness; it is the fruit of the Spirit:
> “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
> kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
> — Galatians 5:22–23
### C. Repetition in the Lyrics: Forming a Discipline
The lyrics repeat the same two lines again:
> 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.
This repetition is appropriate, because speech habits are not changed by a single hearing. We must:
Joshua 1:8 gives the pattern:
> “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,
> but you shall meditate in it day and night,
> that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.”
Notice the order:
Mouth → Meditation → Obedience → Success.
As you take these verses on your lips and in your heart repeatedly, the Holy Spirit uses them to retrain your inner responses and your outward words.
Let us be very practical. Many believers are defeated not by demons of great power, but by their own tongues. Relationships are destroyed, testimonies are compromised, and spiritual authority is undermined through uncontrolled speech.
Here are four concrete steps.
### 1) First, we must repent for sinful speech
Before God can sanctify your mouth, He requires repentance for past and present misuse.
Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind:
Then respond as Isaiah did:
> “Woe is me, for I am undone!
> Because I am a man of unclean lips,
> And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
> For my eyes have seen the King,
> The Lord of hosts.”
> — Isaiah 6:5
When Isaiah confessed, the Lord cleansed his lips with a coal from the altar (vv. 6–7). You, too, can receive cleansing through the blood of Jesus. Name the sins of your mouth before God, ask for forgiveness, and renounce them.
### 2) Second, we must submit our heart to the Word and the Spirit
Remember: “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth.” The heart must be made wise.
This requires:
Fill your heart with God’s thoughts. What fills your heart will shape your words.
Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”
Ask the Holy Spirit to be the “guard” at the gate of your mouth.
Romans 8:14 – “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
Harsh words flow from bitter hearts. Let the cross cut off resentment, unforgiveness, and pride.
Ephesians 4:31–32 – “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger… be put away from you… be kind to one another…”
If the heart is wise, the mouth will increasingly follow.
### 3) Third, we must practice the gentle answer in real situations
This is where theory becomes reality. Ask God to help you apply Proverbs 15:1 in your daily life.
Some practical steps:
Even a brief silence allows the heart of the wise to “instruct” the mouth.
James 1:19 – “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
A gentle answer is not only in the words, but in the tone. Consciously choose a soft, steady voice.
You may strongly address the issue without attacking the dignity of the person.
Their wrath does not have to produce wrath in you. Through the grace of God, you can respond from the Spirit, not from the flesh.
As you practice, you will find that many potential explosions are defused before they begin.
### 4) Fourth, we must make scriptural proclamations over our mouth
There is power in declaring God’s Word over your own life. You can re-train your inner man by speaking what God has said.
For example, you can regularly affirm:
By making such proclamations in faith, you align your heart and tongue with the will of God. Over time, your tongue becomes an instrument of righteousness (Romans 6:13), not of sin.
### Proclamation
Speak this aloud, thoughtfully and deliberately:
> I proclaim that the heart of the wise instructs his mouth
> and adds learning to his lips.
> Through the blood of Jesus, my heart is cleansed and made wise.
> The Word of God dwells richly in my heart,
> and my heart instructs my mouth to speak only what pleases the Lord.
> I reject harsh and destructive words.
> I receive from the Holy Spirit the power to give a gentle answer
> that turns away wrath.
> My tongue shall not be set on fire by hell,
> but shall be governed by the Spirit of God.
> I choose life-giving words, words of peace, truth, and grace.
> My mouth is an instrument of blessing,
> to the glory of God the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
### Prayer
Father, in the name of Jesus, I come to You and acknowledge that my tongue has often been used in ways that grieve Your Spirit. I confess every harsh, bitter, proud, and foolish word I have spoken. I ask You to forgive me and to cleanse me by the blood of Your Son.
Lord, give me a wise and understanding heart. Let Your Word fill my inner being until my heart can truly instruct my mouth. Holy Spirit, set a guard over my lips. Teach me to pause, to listen, and to respond with a gentle answer that turns away wrath.
Break every habit of angry and careless speech in my life. Uproot bitterness, resentment, and pride from my heart. Let the fruit of the Spirit – especially gentleness and self-control – govern my tongue.
From this day forward, make my mouth a channel of Your wisdom and peace. Let my words bring life, healing, and reconciliation. I ask this in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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