How does Proverbs 16:28 connect with Ephesians 4:29 about speech?

Words That Heal or Harm

• Proverbs 16:28 pinpoints two deadly uses of the tongue: “A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip separates close friends”.

• Ephesians 4:29 offers the antidote: “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen”.

• Both verses assume words carry moral weight; speech never falls into a neutral category.

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Linking the Two Passages

1. Source of the words

– Proverbs exposes the crooked heart (“perverse”) behind divisive talk.

– Ephesians calls believers to a renewed heart that produces edifying speech (cf. Ephesians 4:23–24).

2. Effect on relationships

– Gossip “separates close friends,” fracturing community.

– Gracious words “build up…bringing grace,” strengthening community.

3. End goal

– Proverbs warns what to avoid: sowing discord.

– Ephesians prescribes what to pursue: sowing grace.

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Supporting Scriptures

• Proverbs 18:21—“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

• James 3:5–10—The tongue’s small size belies its great destructive or constructive potential.

• Psalm 19:14—A heart-mouth connection: “May the words of my mouth…be pleasing in Your sight.”

• Matthew 12:36–37—Words will be judged, underscoring their eternal significance.

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Practical Takeaways

• Run speech through a two-part filter:

– Is it wholesome? (absence of corruption, slander, gossip)

– Is it helpful? (presence of edification, grace, timely aid)

• Replace gossip with intercession—pray for the person rather than talk about them.

• When tempted to spread an unverified story, remember that discord is the inevitable fruit.

• Cultivate the habit of “grace seasoning” (Colossians 4:6), consciously inserting encouragement and truth into daily conversations.

• Keep short accounts: if harmful words slip out, confess quickly and make restitution (Proverbs 28:13; Matthew 5:23–24).

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Living It Out Together

• In the home: establish a family norm that complaints must conclude with a constructive suggestion.

• In the church: confront divisive speech early (Titus 3:10), and celebrate testimonies of words that healed.

• In the workplace: choose silence over sarcasm; choose affirmation over rumor-spreading.

Both Solomon and Paul direct us to the same crossroads: will our tongues widen fractures or weld bonds? Obedience to these verses ensures that every conversation becomes an opportunity to transfer the grace we ourselves have received.