Naughty Tongue

Wisdom from Proverbs

Proverbs 17 has a general theme about those who cause strife and division and those who follow peace and wisdom. There is much here for maintaining peace in a home but also in a particular congregation.

Consider v. 4, a wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

We tend to condemn the one of false lips. He ought not to be speaking things that are untrue. Thus, also with the one of a naughty tongue, stirring up strife in the brotherhood. But who is this warning to? It is to the one who listens to false lips. If you listen to and give heed to false lips, the Bible calls you an a wicked doer! Beware what you listen to!

The Bible also condemns you if you are one who likes to hear questionable bits of information about your neighbors. If you do not like to gossip so much but you do like to listen to the local gossip, that one lady in your church who just cannot resist telling all the latest scandalous news, the Bible calls YOU a liar!

Do not give false lips and gossip an ear to sound off. They corrupt not only the speaker but the hearer, too. In fact, the fact that you want to hear such things shows that the corruption has already found a place in your heart. Confess. Repent. Turn away the person of a false and naughty tongue.