June 6 — Words as Seeds
SCRIPTURE READING:
Proverbs 10-12
SCRIPTURE:
Passage: Proverbs 10
¹ The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
² Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
³ The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
⁴ He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
⁵ He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
⁶ Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
⁷ The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
⁸ The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
⁹ He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
¹⁰ He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
¹¹ The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
¹² Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
¹³ In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
¹⁴ Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
¹⁵ The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
¹⁶ The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
¹⁷ He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
¹⁸ He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
¹⁹ In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
²⁰ The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
²² The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
²³ It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
²⁴ The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
²⁵ As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
²⁶ As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
²⁷ The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
²⁸ The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
²⁹ The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
³⁰ The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
³¹ The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
³² The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
Passage: Proverbs 11
¹ A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
² When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
³ The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
⁴ Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
⁵ The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
⁶ The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
⁷ When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
⁸ The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
⁹ An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
¹⁰ When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
¹¹ By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
¹² He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
¹³ A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
¹⁴ Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
¹⁵ He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
¹⁶ A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
¹⁷ The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
¹⁸ The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
¹⁹ As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
²⁰ They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
²¹ Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
²² As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
²³ The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
²⁴ There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
²⁵ The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
²⁶ He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
²⁷ He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
²⁸ He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
²⁹ He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
³¹ Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
Passage: Proverbs 12
¹ Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
² A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
³ A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
⁴ A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
⁵ The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
⁶ The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
⁷ The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
⁸ A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
⁹ He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
¹⁰ A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
¹¹ He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
¹² The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
¹³ The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
¹⁴ A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
¹⁶ A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
¹⁷ He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
¹⁸ There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
¹⁹ The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
²¹ There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
²² Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
²³ A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
²⁴ The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
²⁵ Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
²⁶ The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
²⁷ The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
²⁸ In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
DEVOTIONAL:
When Proverbs reaches chapter 10, the teaching shifts from long speeches to short, sharp sayings. It feels like wisdom training for real life, where decisions come quickly and speech comes even quicker. These proverbs are not random; they repeatedly press on the same nerve: righteousness has a texture, and wickedness has a trajectory. What you choose does not stay isolated. It multiplies.
A dominant theme in these chapters is speech. The mouth can be a fountain or a trap, a shelter or a weapon. Proverbs assumes that words do not float free from the heart; they are the overflow of what we treasure. That means the fight for godly speech is not won by mere etiquette. It is won by a heart being reshaped to love truth, to hate cruelty, and to value peace.
The proverbs also connect righteousness to diligence and deceit to collapse. Lazy hands shrink life; honest labor tends to steadiness. This is not a simplistic promise that the righteous never suffer. It is wisdom’s observation that God’s world is morally structured: persistent dishonesty corrodes trust, and persistent diligence usually builds stability. Covenant life is meant to be lived with integrity in the ordinary rhythms of earning, giving, and serving.
Proverbs 12 highlights how reckless words can pierce like a sword, while wise speech can heal. That line alone exposes much of modern life, where sarcasm is praised and outrage is treated as courage. Scripture calls that folly. God’s people are to be known for words that are true, timely, and restorative, because the LORD Himself speaks truth and brings life by His Word.
Jesus is the Word made flesh, and His speech is the perfect pattern for ours. He never used truth as a club, and He never used kindness as a cover for lies. At the cross He absorbed the harm of our sinful speech, and in His resurrection He gives a new mouth to those who trust Him. The Spirit forms us into people whose words match the gospel we claim to believe.
In daily life, take inventory of your words before you take inventory of other people’s faults. Ask God to make you slow to speak and quick to listen, especially at home where careless words land hardest. In your work, practice integrity when no one is applauding. In the church, choose speech that builds confidence in Christ rather than rumor, suspicion, or performative outrage.
In U.S. civic life, the virtue of truthful speech is desperately needed because public discourse is easily poisoned by slander and exaggeration. Pray for journalists, teachers, leaders, and everyday citizens to love truth more than victory. Christians should show up as people who refuse to spread falsehood, who correct with gentleness, and who speak as those who will give account to God.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Which proverb about speech in these chapters most confronts your current habits of talking or posting?
Why does Proverbs connect integrity in work with integrity in words?
How can reckless speech function like a sword in a family, workplace, or church?
What does Jesus teach you about holding truth and mercy together in the way you speak?
PRAYER:
ADORATION:
God of truth, Your Word is pure, and Your speech gives life. You are faithful in what You say, and You never use power to crush the weak.
CONFESSION:
I confess the careless ways I have spoken, the sharp words I have justified, and the truths I have avoided. Forgive me for using my tongue to serve myself instead of serving You.
THANKSGIVING:
Thank You for the gospel that covers sinful speech and for the Spirit who can train my mouth. Thank You for Jesus, whose words are always right and whose mercy is always real.
SUPPLICATION – GENERAL:
Set a guard over my lips. Teach me to speak truthfully, to apologize quickly, and to encourage sincerely. Help me work with diligence and honesty so that my life does not contradict my testimony.
SUPPLICATION – U.S. / CIVIC:
Heal our public conversations from bitterness and deception. Give courage to those who tell the truth, and humility to those who need correction. Make Your church a model of truthful, peaceable speech in a divided society.
SCRIPTURE: There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. Proverbs 12:18