[334] Prov. xiv. 7. There is a quaint and pertinent passage in Lyly's Euphues:--"We may see the cunning and curious work of Nature, which hath barred and hedged nothing in so strongly as the tongue, with two rowes of teeth, and therewith two lips, besides she hath placed it farre from the heart, that it should not utter that which the heart had conceived; this also should cause us to be silent, seeinge those that use much talke, though they speake truly, are never beleeved." [335] Prov. xv. 2. [336] Prov. xviii. 2. [337] Prov. xii. 18. [338] Eccl. x. 4. [339] Prov. xv. 4. מַרְפֵּא is best rendered here and in Eccl. x. 4 by "gentleness." It is just that quality of humility and submission and tranquillity which our Lord blessed as meekness. [340] Prov. xv. 1. [341] Prov. xv. 26. [342] Prov. xvi. 24. [343] Prov. xii. 25. [344] Prov. xv. 23. [345] Prov. xxv. 20. [346] Prov. xxv. 11. [347] _Cf._ Eccles. xx. 20: "A wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool's mouth, for he will not speak it in due season." [348] Prov. xxv. 12. [349] Prov. xxviii. 23. [350] Prov. xv. 7. [351] Prov. xvi. 21. [352] Prov. xvi. 23. [353] Prov. xx. 15. [354] Prov. xv. 28. [355] Prov. xxiv. 26. [356] Prov. xi. 9. [357] Prov. xii. 6. [358] Prov. xiv. 3. [359] Prov. xiv. 5, 25. [360] Prov. xxxi. 8, 9. [361] Note the intimate connection between conduct and speech in such a proverb as xvii. 4. When we do evil we are always ready to listen to evil talk, when we talk deceitfully we are preparing to go on to worse deeds of evil, to listen to tongues of destruction. Note, too, how in xii. 5 the thoughts and the counsels of the heart come before the words and the mouth in v. 6. [362] Prov. xi. 12. [363] Prov. xvii. 27. [364] Prov. xvii. 28. _Cf._ the old Norse proverb:-- "An unwise man when he comes among the people Had best be silent: no one knows That he nothing knows unless he talks too much." [365] Prov. xxiv. 7. [366] Prov. xiv. 15. [367] James i. 26. [368] Prov. xvi. 1. XIII. _PRIDE AND HUMILITY._ "A wise son heareth his father's instruction, but a scorner heareth not rebuke."--PROV. xiii. 1. "Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth correction, but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured."--PROV. xiii. 18. "By pride cometh only contention, but with the well advised is wisdom."--PROV. xiii. 10. "Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded."--PROV. xiii. 13. This last proverb appears in another form, as, "He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good, and whoso trusteth in the Lord happy is he."--PROV. xvi. 20.