100 Proverbs on Respectful Disagreement

After coming up empty after completing a search about the Proverbs’ instructions on respectful disagreement, I conducted my own review.

The wise keep their mouth shut, weigh their answers carefully, and genuinely listen to others. Fools, on the other hand, are quick to lash out. They are hot-headed and quarrelsome.

The Proverbs teach us to hold our tongues, avoid gossip, and speak with gentleness. As you read the Proverbs below, consider the picture it paints and the role you play.

100 Proverbs on Respectful Disagreement

• The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. (Proverbs 10:11)

• Hatred stirs up conflict,

but love covers over all wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12)

• Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips

and spreads slander is a fool. (Proverbs 10:18)

• Sin is not ended by multiplying words,

but the prudent hold their tongues. (Proverbs 10:19)

• The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,

but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse. (Proverbs 10:32)

• With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,

but through knowledge the righteous escape. (Proverbs 11:9)

• Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,

but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. (Proverbs 11:11)

• Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,

but the one who has understanding holds their tongue. (Proverbs 11:12)

• The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,

but the speech of the upright rescues them. (Proverbs 12:6)

• Fools show their annoyance at once,

but the prudent overlook an insult. (Proverbs 12:16)

• The words of the reckless pierce like swords,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18)

• The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,

but a fool’s heart blurts out folly. (Proverbs 12:23)

• Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,

but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3)

• Where there is strife, there is pride,

but wisdom is found in those who take advice. (Proverbs 13:10)

• Walk with the wise and become wise,

for a companion of fools suffers harm. (Proverbs 13:20)

• A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,

but the lips of the wise protect them. (Proverbs 14:3)

• The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,

but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. (Proverbs 14:6)

• Stay away from a fool,

for you will not find knowledge on their lips. (Proverbs 14:7)

• Fools mock at making amends for sin,

but goodwill is found among the upright. (Proverbs 14:9)

• The simple believe anything,

but the prudent give thought to their steps. (Proverbs 14:15)

• The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,

but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure. (Proverbs 14:16)

• Whoever is patient has great understanding,

but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. (Proverbs 14:29)

• A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

• The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,

but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. (Proverbs 15:2)

• The soothing tongue is a tree of life,

but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. (Proverbs 15:4)

• Mockers resent correction,

so they avoid the wise. (Proverbs 15:12)

• A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,

but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. (Proverbs 15:18)

• The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,

but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. (Proverbs 15:28)

• Pride goes before destruction,

a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

• The wise in heart are called discerning,

and gracious words promote instruction. (Proverbs 16:21)

• A scoundrel plots evil,

and on their lips it is like a scorching fire. (Proverbs 16:27)

• A perverse person stirs up conflict,

and a gossip separates close friends. (Proverbs 16:28)

• Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;

whoever purses their lips is bent on evil. (Proverbs 16:30)

• Better a patient person than a warrior,

one with self-control than one who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32)

• A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;

a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. (Proverbs 17:4)

• Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;

whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 17:5)

• Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—

how much worse lying lips to a ruler! (Proverbs 17:7)

• Evildoers foster rebellion against God; (Proverbs 17:11)
• Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;

so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. (Proverbs 17:14)

• Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;

whoever builds a high gate invites destruction. (Proverbs 17:19)

• One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;

one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble. (Proverbs 17:20)

• The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,

and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. (Proverbs 17:27)

• Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,

and discerning if they hold their tongues. (Proverbs 17:28)

• An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends

and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. (Proverbs 18:1)

• Fools find no pleasure in understanding

but delight in airing their own opinions. (Proverbs 18:2)

• When wickedness comes, so does contempt,

and with shame comes reproach. (Proverbs 18:3)

• The lips of fools bring them strife,

and their mouths invite a beating. (Proverbs 18:6)

• The mouths of fools are their undoing,

and their lips are a snare to their very lives. (Proverbs 18:7)

• Before a downfall the heart is haughty,

but humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 18:12)

• To answer before listening—

that is folly and shame. (Proverbs 18:13)

• A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city;

disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel. (Proverbs 18:19)

• The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)

• Better the poor whose walk is blameless

than a fool whose lips are perverse. (Proverbs 19:1)

• A person’s wisdom yields patience;

it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11)

• A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;

rescue them, and you will have to do it again. (Proverbs 19:19)

• Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;

rebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge. (Proverbs 19:25)

• A corrupt witness mocks at justice,

and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil. (Proverbs 19:28)

• It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,

but every fool is quick to quarrel. (Proverbs 20:3)

• A gossip betrays a confidence;

so avoid anyone who talks too much. (Proverbs 20:19)

• Haughty eyes and a proud heart—

the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. (Proverbs 21:4)

• The wicked crave evil;

their neighbors get no mercy from them. (Proverbs 21:10)

• When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;

by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge. (Proverbs 21:11)

• Whoever pursues righteousness and love

finds life, prosperity and honor. (Proverbs 21:21)

• Those who guard their mouths and their tongues

keep themselves from calamity. (Proverbs 21:23)

• The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—

behaves with insolent fury. (Proverbs 21:24)

• The wicked put up a bold front,

but the upright give thought to their ways. (Proverbs 21:29)

• Humility is the fear of the Lord;

its wages are riches and honor and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

• Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;

quarrels and insults are ended. (Proverbs 22:10)

• Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,

do not associate with one easily angered,

or you may learn their ways

and get yourself ensnared (Proverbs 22:24-25)

• Do not speak to fools,

for they will scorn your prudent words. (Proverbs 23:9)

• Do not gloat when your enemy falls;

when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice, (Proverbs 24:17)

• An honest answer

is like a kiss on the lips. (Proverbs 24:26)

• Remove the dross from the silver,

and a silversmith can produce a vessel; (Proverbs 25:4)

• Remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,

and his throne will be established through righteousness. (Proverbs 25:5)

• Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

and a gentle tongue can break a bone. (Proverbs 25:15)

• Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow

is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor. (Proverbs 25:18)

• If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. (Proverbs 25:21)

• In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you. (Proverbs 25:22)

• Like a city whose walls are broken through

is a person who lacks self-control. (Proverbs 25:28)

• Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,

an undeserved curse does not come to rest. (Proverbs 26:2)

• Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

or you yourself will be just like him. (Proverbs 26:4)

• Answer a fool according to his folly,

or he will be wise in his own eyes. (Proverbs 26:5)

• Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for them. (Proverbs 26:12)

• Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears

is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. (Proverbs 26:17)

• Without wood a fire goes out;

without a gossip a quarrel dies down. (Proverbs 26:20)

• As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife. (Proverbs 26:21)

• A lying tongue hates those it hurts,

and a flattering mouth works ruin. (Proverbs 26:28)

• Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;

an outsider, and not your own lips. (Proverbs 27:2)

• Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy? (Proverbs 27:4)

• Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Proverbs 27:6)

• The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,

but people are tested by their praise. (Proverbs 27:21)

• Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor

rather than one who has a flattering tongue. (Proverbs 28:23)

• Mockers stir up a city,

but the wise turn away anger. (Proverbs 29:8)

• If a wise person goes to court with a fool,

the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace. (Proverbs 29:9)

• Fools give full vent to their rage,

but the wise bring calm in the end. (Proverbs 29:11)

• Do you see someone who speaks in haste?

There is more hope for a fool than for them. (Proverbs 29:20)

• An angry person stirs up conflict,

and a hot-tempered person commits many sins. (Proverbs 29:22)

• The righteous detest the dishonest;

the wicked detest the upright. (Proverbs 29:27)

• “If you play the fool and exalt yourself,

or if you plan evil,

clap your hand over your mouth! (Proverbs 30:32)

• For as churning cream produces butter,

and as twisting the nose produces blood,

so stirring up anger produces strife.” (Proverbs 30:33)

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Dr. Darin Gerdes is a tenured  Professor of Management in the College of  Business at Charleston Southern University. He is the host of the Leadersmith Podcast.

All ideas expressed on www.daringerdes.com are his own.