Proverbs 12:18 (NKJV) — 18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.

The influence of words on well-being. Repeatedly the Book of Proverbs stresses the power of words. (See Proverbs 18:21.) It is possible to speak words that pierce others like swords. Wrong words can have very damaging effects. (See Proverbs 18:8; 26:22.) But the wise person will use the tongue to help, to strengthen, to encourage. (See Ephesians 4:29.) In doing so, the wise contribute positively to the physical, mental, and spiritual health of others.

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Proverbs 12:17 (NKJV) — 17 He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.

The relationship between words and character. Words reveal inner character. They either display righteousness or deceitfulness. One who speaks the truth demonstrates righteousness; a false witness reveals deceitfulness. The term “false witness” specifically describes someone who gives an untrue report about the activities of another. This sin is prohibited in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:16).

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Proverbs 12:16 (NKJV) — 16 A fool’s wrath is known at once, But a prudent man covers shame.

The fool’s temper. Another mark of fools is that they have no control over their anger. (See Proverbs 25:28.) Prudent people do not shame themselves by foolish public displays of temper. They rule their spirit; they do not tell all they know, do all they feel like doing, or say all they think.

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Proverbs 12:15 (NKJV) — 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.

The fool’s way. A mark of fools is to do what seems right to them without considering God’s will or seeking advice from others. They do not realize that this approach leads to death. (See Proverbs 14:12.) Rather than rushing into a course of action simply because it seems right to them, those who are wise seek and act on godly counsel.

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Yesterday I enjoyed the opportunity to teach a class at Urshan College. Jerry Jones, Assistant Professor of Theological and Pastoral Studies and Christian Ministry Program Director, invited me to teach on the subject of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. I appreciated the opportunity to introduce insights from my newest book, The Holy Spirit: A Commentary, which is available at pentecostalpublishing.com, Amazon, and as an Apple Book.

Most of the students were sophomores, so they were about five or six years old when Judy and I moved back from California to the St. Louis area in 2007. I had taught the father of at least one of them at Christian Life College!

This reminds me of something Mary Lou Myrick said to me during my twenty-five years at CLC. She taught at Christian Life College for fifty years and said she had learned to be nice to students because they could someday be your boss!

Something like this happened to me. Jennie Jackson was a first-year student at CLC in 1982, my first year there as a teacher. After I returned to St. Louis and started working at Urshan, Jennie became the vice-president of Urshan College and Urshan Graduate School of Theology.

My student had become my boss, and she serves with excellence in that role.

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Proverbs 12:14 (NKJV) — 14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

The fruit of right words and honest labor. While a wicked person is snared by the words of his mouth, as seen in Proverbs 12:13, the righteous person will be satisfied with the results of his words. (See Proverbs 18:21.) What a person is by his speech and conduct will bear fruit in his life. The law of sowing and reaping is a divine law: people ultimately receive the proper reward for their labors. (See Galatians 6:7.)

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Proverbs 12:13 (NKJV) — 13 The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will come through trouble.

The snare of words. The wicked person’s mouth brings him more trouble than anything else. A trap is always just a word away. While the Bible nowhere guarantees the righteous person exemption from conflict, it does promise he will come out of it safely. (See Psalm 34:19; John 16:33.)

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Proverbs 12:12 (NKJV) — 12 The wicked covet the catch of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields fruit.

A net or a root. A net is something by which people catch their prey. Wicked people admire the way other evil people attain wealth and pleasure, and they determine to do the same thing. A root is something through which life comes. Righteous persons produce lasting fruit as a natural product of their high principles. A net may or may not catch prey. Even if it does, it must be used again. The net itself cannot produce. Its catch will soon be used up; it produces nothing lasting. But a root continues to produce satisfying fruit season after season. The net, in the context, represents wicked methods. It captures what belongs to another. By contrast, the root represents honorable and honest gain.

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