<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="pr+10:9-17">Proverbs 10:9-17</span></span></p><p>We look now at the fifth pillar of wisdom - watchfulness with words. Anyone who does not understand the importance of words and the impact they can produce for good or bad is not a wise person. The book of Proverbs has a good deal to say about the power of words: this is without doubt one of its major themes. Today's text implies that there is a transfer of wisdom from one person to another when wise words are used but that unwise words have the opposite effect. Emotional scars can be left by bitter words. How many adults still struggle from bitter words spoken to them when they were children - words like: "I wish you had never been born!"? Many a man and woman have told me that a statement like "I'm sorry I ever married you" carries as much force as a physical blow. Words have the potential for destroying or building up, hurting or healing, blessing or blistering, bringing comfort or consternation. Many oriental religions believe that ultimate reality is silence. Lao-tse, the famous Chinese philosopher, said: "The word that can be uttered is not the divine word; that word is Silence." I believe that ultimate reality is relationship - relationship with a God who speaks. God broke the silence of eternity with the words: "Let there be light." Lao-tse had to say that ultimate reality was silence for he knew nothing of a God who speaks. With words God created a world. We do the same. Our words create a world of order or disorder, of cosmos or chaos. Be wise - watch your words.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Father, I see that when You spoke, You created a world and that when I speak, I do the same. Give me the wisdom to use words in a way that will build up and not pull down; construct, not destruct. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="col+4:1-6">Colossians 4:1-6</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ec+10:12">Ecclesiastes 10:12</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="tit+2:8">Titus 2:8</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What is our conversation to be full of?</li><li>What was Paul's admonition to Titus?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked." (v. 11)

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num poetry-line">17 </sup><poetry>Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,  <br/><indent>but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.</indent><span class="pb"></span><poetry></poetry> </span></p>

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,<cr>1</cr> <br/><indent>but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.</indent><pb/><poetry>

Proverbs 10:17

 17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,   but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. 

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,  but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. 

<p><span class="bible-text "><poetry>Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,  <br/><indent>but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.</indent><span class="pb"></span><poetry></poetry> </span></p>

 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,   but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. 

Bible Verse of the Day

March 15, 2023

Proverbs 10:17 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

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