Proverbs 13:3
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He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
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Do you need another proverb about speech? Yes! Why? Because your tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison, a world of iniquity, set on fire of hell! Unless you want to claim perfection, you have a problem with your speech. The tongue can no man tame! Solomon repeatedly warned his son, and us, about the danger of our mouths and lips.
Am I too harsh, tender reader? Try James (Jas 3:2-12)! Let him help you grow up. But remember, his words were inspired by the living and true God, Who knows every word in your tongue before it is even spoken (Ps 139:4)! He wrote about you! And He wants you to know that your tongue is not your own (Ps 12:4). You owe Him your every word!
Mouth and lips here are metonyms for speech. We use our mouth and lips to talk, so by metonymy the means of speaking are put for speech itself. The man who keeps his mouth controls his speech; the man who opens wide his lips does not rule his speech. The one guarding his words saves himself; the one talking freely destroys himself.
Solomon knew the grave danger of unguarded speech, so he warned about it often (10:31; 12:13,18; 16:23; 17:20; 18:7,21; 20:15; 21:23). Your words can get you in serious trouble, so be very careful every time you open your mouth. You can save your life by taking heed to each word you speak and making sure it has heaven's clear approval. Or you can destroy yourself by speaking impulsively without careful and godly prudence.
To soberly learn the lesson, and to fear the danger in your mouth, consider a few sins of the tongue: answering again (Tit 2:9), arrogance (I Sam 2:3), backbiting (25:23), boasting (Ps 94:4), bitter remarks (Eph 4:29-32), complaining (Num 11:1), contention (18:6), debate (Rom 1:29), despising others (11:12), disrespect to parents (20:20; Deut 27:16), extortion (20:14), false accusations (Ex 20:16; Tit 2:3), flattery (Ps 12:3), flattering titles (Job 32:21-22), flirting (2:16), foolish talking (Eph 5:4), harsh fathering (Col 3:21), hasty or broken vows (Eccl 5:1-7), hypocritical worship (Is 29:13), irreverence by a wife (Eph 5:33; I Pet 3:6), jesting (Eph 5:4), taking the Lord's name in vain (Ex 20:7), lying (12:22), nagging by a wife (27:15-16), name calling (Matt 5:22), ostentatious praying (Matt 6:5), questioning God (Rom 9:20), repetitive and rote prayers (Matt 6:7), risqué speech (Col 3:8), slander (10:18), speaking against a pastor (Ezek 33:30; III John 1:9-10), speaking evil of dignitaries (Eccl 10:20; Jude 1:8), speaking evil of a brother (Jas 4:11), speaking without study (15:28), suretyship (11:15), swearing (Jas 5:12), talebearing (11:13), unlearned questions (II Tim 2:23), whispering (16:28), and women speaking in church (I Cor 14:34-35; I Tim 2:11-12).
If those sins were not enough to sober you, consider the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matt 12:34-37). No matter how religious a man may claim to be, he is to be measured by how well he bridles his tongue (Jas 1:26).
Cut your words in half. Speak only half as much as you ordinarily would. Speak only half of what you want to say. Cutting your words in half is to restrain your speech, due to the certainty of sin in many words (10:19). Speak only if necessary. Never, ever, let an idle word escape your lips. Men will think you are wise (17:27-28)! Your esteem will rise!
Slow down! Be swift to hear, but slow to speak (Jas 1:19)! Think before you discharge the venom under your lips (Rom 3:13). Hear a matter out before responding (18:13). The heart of the righteous studies before answering (15:28). Take conscious and specific thought every time you open your mouth (or write or type an email or letter).
Make graciousness your constant goal (Eccl 10:12; Col 4:6). Let kindness govern every word (16:24). Remember how David's pure heart and gracious words won Jonathan and Israel (22:11; I Sam 18:1-5). A woman who speaks graciously will always be honored (11:16; 31:26). Follow the blessed example of our Lord (Luke 4:16-22).
Lord, have mercy on me! Woe is me! For I am undone! I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips! Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Teach me to stand in awe of Thee and sin not with my mouth. Amen.
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