In the public sphere, we often witness how an effort to fight for the truth is misunderstood. Voices raised to demand justice are narrowed in meaning. Actions born out of concern are framed as threats. Through certain word choices and narratives, good intentions can shift, and the truth slowly loses its place. This is where we learn that words are never neutral; they can sustain life, but they can also wound it.

Proverbs 10:17-32 places this issue in the light of wisdom. Almost the entire teaching in this passage is organised in the form of a parallel antithesis. The righteous is contrasted with the wicked, the wise with the foolish, the diligent with the lazy. This pattern emphasises that life is shaped by real choices. Human attitudes and behaviour, including speech, always have consequences.

The book of Proverbs teaches that there is a cause-and-effect relationship in life. Knowledge, goodness, and craftsmanship lead to prosperity, while ignorance, wickedness, and laziness bring distress. But Proverbs also emphasises that God remains the source of life and blessings. Wisdom is not simply human prowess, but a way of life that is in harmony with God's will.

In the concluding part of this passage (vv. 31-32), attention is directed specifically to words. The mouth of the righteous "brings forth wisdom." This expression describes a fruitful tree: the words of the righteous are born from a life rooted in truth and justice. Such words soothe, build up, and sustain the common life. In contrast, a forked tongue symbolises words that distort intentions and conceal deceit. Such words damage relationships and weaken trust in society.

Friends of the Bible, through today's proverbs we are invited to reflect. In the midst of a social situation full of narratives and quick judgements, wise people are called to weigh words before they are spoken. True wisdom is seen when we choose honest and responsible speech, so that through our words, lives are not destroyed, but rather preserved and nurtured.