Proverbs 15:1 
A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger. 

Application: 

A patient or gentle answer (Prov 14:3; 25:15) defuses anger (e.g., Gideon’s response to the men of Ephraim in Judg 8:1-3). In contrast, a harsh answer escalates a situation (e.g., Nabal’s response to David in 1 Sam 25:10-13 [“Nabal” means “fool”]). *

Compare to:

Proverbs 12:16 
A fool’s wrath is known at once, 
But a prudent man covers shame. 

Remember what James says about the tongue: it’s “a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (Jas 3:8). This principle explains the fool’s displeasure (12:16) when he speaks rashly (12:18). It reminds us that when we speak quickly—often out of anger—good results rarely follow. We must engage our minds before we speak.^

Controlling our tongue, listening twice as much as we speak, and seasoning our speech (Colossians 4:6) with love instead of judgment is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and evidence that we are guided by the Holy Spirit of God (Romans 8:14) rather than by our selfish, proud spirit. 

Reference:
^ Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2019), 593.
* John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Pr 15:1.

To God be the glory!

Our Lord Jesus Christ created everything! By Him, For Him!

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Disclaimer

When God inspires me, I write or post articles that glorify God. I invite you to view this post as a Bible study. Like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, I encourage you to search the Scriptures to determine whether what I have posted is true. Always consult your church ministers regarding biblical matters. I am not a professional writer, so there may be grammatical or spelling errors. I strive to write as clearly and efficiently as possible. Your brother in Christ, Ricardo.

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