Be wise not to talk too much

Proverbs 17:27-28 (KJV)

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.  Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

In 1608 England’s King James convened a group of scholars to translate the ancient Scriptures from the Hebrew and Greek languages into English.  That Bible was first published in 1611.  So I have used the King James original version for expressing Proverbs 17:27-28.  However, if you are distracted by the old English, here’s the most contemporary translation from the Message Bible: “The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm.  Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they're smart.”

The words “knowledge” and “understanding” have great significance in the book of Proverbs.  The premise for the book of Proverbs is found in 1:7 that simply says, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”.  Later, 9:10 says “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of ”.  So biblically, knowledge is not intelligence, it is wisdom since both are based on fearing (respecting, reverencing the Lord).  Furthermore, 9:10 say that “the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”.  So knowledge and understanding are connected and what does 17:27 say about them?  A person of knowledge does not need to say much, he spares his words.  A person of understanding has an excellent spirit, he can be described in today’s vernacular as “calm, cool, and collected”. 

Interestingly, verse 28 indicates that the fool can be thought of as wise if he keeps silent, but he’s still a fool.  Biblically, the fool is one is does not and will not obey the commands of the Lord.  The fool never learns, the fool never develops wisdom, the fool thinks that his ways are superior to God’s ways.  

The Bible emphasizes the importance of listening as a priority over talking.  Why were we created with two ears but only one mouth?  James 1:19 says to be “quick to hear, but slow to speak”.  Proverbs 10:19 says that the more you talk, the more likely you are to sin.  You know that you have been guilty at times of talking too much when you should have been listening more.  We all know people who love to hear themselves talk and the more they talk the less we listen and the less we respect them.  A colleague of mine likes to use the word “blathering” in describing people who talk too much without saying much worth remembering.  To blather means “to talk foolishly at length” or “to talk nonsense”.   What these proverbs are warning against is “blathering”.

Examine yourself-----do you “blather” too much?  Do you think before you speak?  Are you careful not to talk excessively?  Do you make sure you listen to another person speaking as much or more as you expect him/her to listen to you?  Do you think that people think of you as “wise” or a “blatherer”? 

“It is a wise thing to say as little as possible to man and as much as possible to God” –- FB Meyer

“It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”. —Abraham Lincoln

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something” -- Plato