PROVERBS CHAPTER 15.
V. 1. A soft answer turneth away wrath, a word spoken in gentleness when people are about to fly into a passion, is like oil on troubled waters; but grievous words, such as are offensive and violent, stir up anger, making it more passionate and embittered.
V.2. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, presenting it in well-arranged form, clothing it in an attractive manner; but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness, in great and loathsome quantities, its utterances being noisy, confused, and without sense, nothing but folly.
V. 3. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, His omniscience seeing everything that goes on in the world, beholding the evil and the good, watching their every act, familiar with their desires, words, and acts.
V. 4. A wholesome tongue, literally, “gentleness of tongue,” is a tree of life, that is, a person who, in true humility, uses gentle, pacifying, soothing speech will do his share toward a better appreciation and use of life, will cause people with whom he comes into contact to enjoy it more properly; but perverseness therein, that is, transgression with the tongue, its abuse for the purpose of stirring up contention, is a breach in the spirit, it wounds the spirit of men, it causes heartache and grief.