Silence

Proverbs 21:23 (NLT)
23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.


King Solomon shares this wisdom with us, not saying anything will keep one out of trouble, whereas saying the wrong thing can lead to arguments and other woes.


When a person is arrested they are told they can remain silent, but it may be wise to do so even before the arrest. There are several reasons for this. A person may give information which may connect them to a crime for which they had no direct knowledge. Giving false information, which is considered obstruction, leads to more charges. A person who is overly vocal about their anger will find it can lead to charges of disorderly conduct. Lawyers follow the wisdom of King Solomon by telling their clients “Keep your mouth shut!” We see how saying the wrong thing can have its consequences and this is true even in our private personal lives. Lying to a spouse will bring distrust. Trying to justify ourselves when another’s feelings are at issue only leads to further confrontations and debates. Therefore it is in our best interest we remain silent at times. Silence gives us an opportunity to listen and process our thoughts. Silence keeps us from speaking rashly out of emotion. There are times when we do need to speak up, but there are times when silence is our best option.