“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.”
The Tongue
This proverb names a specific, violent image, piercings of a sword, worth holding as honest acknowledgment that words can produce genuine, actual wounds, not merely hurt feelings quickly forgotten, but this described piercing, real damage worth taking as seriously as physical injury this image directly evokes.
This is worth examining against however much you have minimized the actual damage careless or cruel words can produce, treating them as merely unpleasant rather than this verse’s own honest claim, genuinely piercing, capable of the same real, lasting damage a literal sword might actually inflict.
Notice the contrast offered, but the tongue of the wise is health, worth holding as this book’s own promised alternative, not merely avoiding the sword’s piercing, but actively, genuinely producing health instead, this whole book’s third movement eventually exploring what this healing speech actually looks like.
Consider today whether your own words have recently functioned as piercing sword or genuine health, and examine honestly whoever may currently be carrying a real wound from something you yourself have said, worth acknowledging directly rather than minimized as merely words, quickly forgotten.
Guard Your Words
- Consider honestly whether your own recent words have pierced like a sword or brought health.
- Acknowledge directly anyone currently carrying a wound from something you have said.
- Choose today to speak words that function as health, not piercing, toward at least one person.
Prayer
Lord, let my words be health, not piercing swords. Show me honestly where my own speech has caused real damage, and give me courage to acknowledge it directly. Amen.
Carry this today
Words can genuinely pierce like a sword. This damage deserves to be taken seriously.