by Bruce Billington

Weekly Devotional 24th of July, 2026

In this session, we will continue examining Proverbs Chapter 12. This chapter presents a recurring contrast between the Wise and the Foolish, and between the Righteous and the Wicked. 

Proverbs 12:21-24 – “No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.23 A prudent man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims folly.”

Verse 21 – This promise that no harm will befall the righteous looks to their situation, considering its outcome. God will always bring about good from any situation (Romans 8:28), even when difficult circumstances arise along the way. God supports the righteous through all situations and sanctifies them in the end. 

By contrast, wicked people will experience harm, possibly evil, but Verse 21a favours understanding “filled with” as referring to the full measure of harm inflicted on the wicked schemers.

Verse 22 – This verse makes it clear that the Lord is watching over all humanity, particularly favouring those who deal faithfully. They will enjoy His blessings and rewards, come into a state of acceptance with Him, and thus enjoy His protection and prosperity.

But those with “lying lips” are an abomination to Him. The repeated warnings against lying are intended to impress on the hearts and minds of the reader how serious an offence this is against God (Verses 17 and 19). God hates lying passionately because He is truth. 

Those who are faithful and truthful in all their dealings—their practices, conduct, and business—are a special delight to God. Those who are not are an abomination. 

Verse 23 is the final proverb about speech in this chapter. Here we are told that the wise are discreet about what they say. They think before they speak and are very careful with their words (Verse 18). They know the power of “selective silence.” Above all, they can keep confidences and can be trusted.

In contrast, the foolish publicly proclaim everything they know. They hear a bit of news or a rumour about someone and begin to spread it to everyone else. Because they consider themselves experts on every subject, they hold nothing back. They foolishly talk about inappropriate topics and divulge secrets that should never be heard. They so love the sound of their own voices that they gossip and chatter, which demonstrates how foolish they are. 

As we consider these verses, we see that it is impossible to overestimate the importance of our words on our journey in life. The hearts of the righteous are revealed through their speech, as are the hearts of the wicked. Considering this, Jesus said to the Pharisees, 

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of what fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word people speak will be accounted for on the day of judgment. For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12:33-37).

The POSB says, 

Words are the fruit of the heart. Other people judge us according to what we say, and one day we must account to God for every word we have spoken. 

God Bless You.