View resources mentioned in week two of the Proverbs: Wisdom & Folly series on July 19, 2026.
Words
Proverbs 10:18-21 (ESV)
18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. 19When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. 20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. 21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.
Proverbs 12:6 (ESV)
The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
Proverbs 12:16 (ESV)
The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.
Proverbs 12:17 (ESV)
Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.
Proverbs 12:18 (ESV)
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 12:19 (ESV)
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Proverbs 12:22 (ESV)
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Proverbs 12:23 (ESV)
A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:2 (ESV)
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
Proverbs 15:4 (ESV)
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 15:7 (ESV)
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.
Proverbs 15:23 (ESV)
To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!
Proverbs 15:26 (ESV)
The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord, but gracious words are pure.
Proverbs 15:28 (ESV)
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
Proverbs 16:24 (ESV)
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Proverbs 17:27-28 (ESV)
27Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 28Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Proverbs 18:2 (ESV)
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Proverbs 18:4 (ESV)
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
Proverbs 18:6 (ESV)
A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.
Proverbs 18:7 (ESV)
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Proverbs 18:8 (ESV)
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Proverbs 18:19 (ESV)
A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
Proverbs 18:21 (ESV)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 25:11 (ESV)
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
Proverbs 29:19 (ESV)
By mere words a servant is not disciplined, for though he understands, he will not respond.
Tongue
Proverbs 6:16-19 (ESV)
16There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
Proverbs 10:20 (ESV)
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
Proverbs 10:21 (ESV)
The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.
Proverbs 10:31 (ESV)
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
Proverbs 17:20 (ESV)
A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
Proverbs 21:6 (ESV)
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
Proverbs 21:23 (ESV)
Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Proverbs 25:15 (ESV)
With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.
Proverbs 25:23 (ESV)
The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
Proverbs 26:28 (ESV)
A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Proverbs 28:23 (ESV)
Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.
Lips
Proverbs 8:6-7 (ESV)
6Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, 7for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Proverbs 10:13 (ESV)
On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.
Proverbs 10:32 (ESV)
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.
Proverbs 12:13 (ESV)
An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.
Proverbs 12:19 (ESV)
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Proverbs 12:22 (ESV)
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Proverbs 13:3 (ESV)
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 14:3 (ESV)
By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
Proverbs 15:7 (ESV)
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.
Proverbs 16:13 (ESV)
Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.
Proverbs 16:23 (ESV)
The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
Proverbs 17:4 (ESV)
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Proverbs 18:20 (ESV)
From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
Proverbs 20:15 (ESV)
There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Proverbs 22:17-18 (ESV)
Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, 18for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
Proverbs 24:26 (ESV)
Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.
Proverbs 26:23-24 (ESV)
Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. 24Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;
Proverbs 27:2 (ESV)
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
Mouth
Proverbs 10:6 (ESV)
Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Proverbs 10:11 (ESV)
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Proverbs 10:14 (ESV)
The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
Proverbs 11:9 (ESV)
With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
Proverbs 11:11 (ESV)
By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
Proverbs 12:6 (ESV)
The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
Proverbs 15:14 (ESV)
The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
Proverbs 15:28 (ESV)
The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
Proverbs 30:32 (ESV)
If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth.
Proverbs 31:8-9 (ESV)
8Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Luke 6:45 (ESV)
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
James 3:1-12 (ESV)
1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
