“The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness” (Proverbs 15:2).

Tom often read through his Bible in just about a year. This time, however, he decided to slow down and not just read the book of Proverbs; he was going to study his way through it. When he came to Proverbs 15, he was impressed with how the writer crafted so many word pictures contrasting honorable and dishonorable speech.

He couldn’t escape the powerfully pointed verse demonstrating the difference between the wise and the foolish and the use of their words. He was amazed at the two words “poureth out.” The foolish person “pours out” foolishness. The picture of this “pouring out” is to “bubble up, to belch.”

One night in his evening prayer time he said something like this to the Lord, “I’ve been listening to a lot of foolish words being burped up all over the place today, Father. In the political scene, at my work, and even at the barbershop, the words that come out of people really demonstrate the condition of their hearts, don’t they, Lord? Please help me be wise, and may my words please You.” That sounds like a very good prayer for us as well, don’t you think?

For today: May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable to the Lord.