speaking beautifully

(taken from "Beautiful in God's Eyes" by Elizabeth George chapter 19: "A Law of Kindness. Her Words")

Proverbs 31:26 : “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness.”

The How-to’s of Beautiful Speech:
1.Establish two guidelines:
speak only if the words are WISE and speak only if the words are KIND.
By following these, you will always have something to say that’s worth saying (WISDOM) and you’ll say it the right way (with KINDNESS).
You can know a lot, but if you speak unkindly, your words will be less effective.

2.Think before you speak.
“The heart of the righteous STUDIES how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. “ Proverbs 15:28.
Literally pause and think about your words before you speak them. Rash speech and quick temper betray a shallow and less than beautiful character.

3.Learn to wait.
When something unpleasant happens, make it your first “law” to do and say nothing.
If you must respond at the moment, be sure your words are soft because “a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” Proverbs 15:1
Waiting buys time to:
- Search the scriptures and find out what God says how to handle the situation. (But, of course, memorize the scriptures first!)
- Seek counsel and find out what other wise people say.
Proverbs 15:14 “Where there is no counsel, the people fall.”
Proverbs 28:26 “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool.”
- Pray for a kind heart and a wise solution for the situation.
- Calm down! Back off!
Proverbs 17:27 “A man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” Only when we are calm can we hear good counsel and make wise decision.
- Weigh the problem.
Decide whether the situation is something to pass over or whether you need to “open” your mouth or address (with wisdom and kindness, of course) the people involved.

4.Add sweetness to your speech.
Proverbs 16:21 “Sweetness of the lips increase learning.”
Speaking pleasantly will always make others more willing to listen and be instructed.
(that’s so true, try it!!)

5.Know what you’re talking about.
Your speech will always be an indicator of what is in your mind and you want to display knowledge when you speak. True wisdom cannot fail to make a good impression.

6.Less is the best.
Remember, God created us with 2 ears and 1 mouth.
Proverbs 10:19 “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”
Better to be quite and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.


Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6