What Are Your Words Saying About You? (Proverbs 15:7)
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Proverbs 15:7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.
This verse is a subtle reminder of truths we’ve seen already — like Proverbs 14:7 and 15:2. If you’re reading Proverbs in sequence, it’s not hard to see the pattern: wisdom shows up in our words. But Solomon takes it deeper here — not just what’s said, but where it comes from. He’s contrasting the lips of the wise with the hearts of fools.
And I love that he uses the word hearts instead of mouths or lips in the second half. Because he’s pulling us beneath the surface. He’s reminding us that our speech isn’t just about self-control or good manners. It’s about the condition of our inner life.
Our words always echo something deeper — they leak our loves.
He’s showing us the fruit that stems from the root. Foolish hearts yield foolish words. Wise hearts — hearts that are being shaped by grace, softened by humility, and anchored in something bigger than self — they begin to speak in ways that lift others up. They spread knowledge. They give life.
And if we’re reading this as followers of Jesus, we don’t just think of “wisdom” as cleverness or intelligence. We think of Christ — the One who became for us the wisdom of God. (1 Cor. 1:24)
So what does a Christ-shaped heart sound like?
Their words become like an aroma — not of ego, but of Christ. Not of control, but of compassion. They create more awareness of who He is — His character, His goodness, His grace.
That’s what we all want.
Proverbs 15:2 began by saying, “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly…” And here in verse 7, we see that playing out. The wise don’t hoard truth, they share it. Not to show off, but to serve. They’ve stored up something good — something lasting — and now they’re pouring it out.
And that’s the difference: fools may have access to information, but they don’t have the kind of heart that stewards it well. Remember Proverbs 14:7? It said, “Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.” Why? Because you’re not just dealing with a speech problem — you’re encountering a heart that resists being taught, being humbled, being changed.
So let me leave you with this simple but searching challenge:
What do your words reveal about your heart’s direction?
Do you spread anxiety or peace? Cynicism or Christ?
Are your conversations helping others see Jesus — or just see more of you?
And maybe most importantly — are you letting Jesus speak into your own heart first, before you speak into others’?
Because that’s where wisdom begins.
Let’s pray.
