Proverbs 17 Devotional Study

Use your words for good, not evil

We are all guilty of running our mouths and hurting other people. Without even stopping to think, we open our mouths and out come our opinions on someone’s lifestyle, the way they dress, or how they raise their kids.

It’s not like we aren’t all painfully aware how it feels to be the subject of others’ harmful words. If we know how much it hurts to have such words directed at us, why do we allow foul talk in our lives?

We can keep our hearts from tumbling into trouble by avoiding those who tear others down in order to make themselves feel better. When we make fun of other people, we insult God and our actions will be punished (Proverbs 17:5).

God wants more for His children. He calls us to reflect His character through our words and actions (Colossians 3:12-15). And, Jesus Himself said we should love one another the same way that He loved us.

One way we show Jesus’ love is by carefully choosing our words to love and encourage each other. We are to fill our friends with love, support, and encouragement (Proverbs 17:9, Proverbs 17:17-18). And when we hurt a friend, we are to reconcile the situation, admitting we were wrong and working to make things right (Proverbs 17:19-20, Matthew 5:24).

It can take time to tame our tongues. But a good first step is understanding the power of our words, and learning to see what we say as a representation of what Jesus would say.

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Reflect:
Proverbs 17:1	Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Proverbs 17:2	A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Proverbs 17:3	The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Proverbs 17:4	A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Proverbs 17:5	Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Proverbs 17:6	Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Proverbs 17:7	Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Proverbs 17:8	A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Proverbs 17:9	He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Proverbs 17:10	A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Proverbs 17:11	An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Proverbs 17:12	Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Proverbs 17:13	Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Proverbs 17:14	The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Proverbs 17:15	He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Proverbs 17:16	Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
Proverbs 17:17	A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:18	A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Proverbs 17:19	He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Proverbs 17:20	He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Proverbs 17:21	He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Proverbs 17:22	A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:23	A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Proverbs 17:24	Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 17:25	A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
Proverbs 17:26	Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
Proverbs 17:27	He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Proverbs 17:28	Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

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