"Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding" (Pro 17:28 KJV).
I guess we've all heard the quote, attributed to Abraham Lincoln, but certainly derived from Proverbs is: "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt."
It would seem that the moral of this story is if you don't have something good to say, don't say it at all.
The wise man would do well to heed the Apostle Paul, he had an answer for just about everything thanks to the indwelling Spirit of God that he listened to every moment, "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Col 4:6 KJV).
It is said that to keep a bird from flying, sprinkle a little salt on his tail. I have not proven this so I don't know if it is true or not . . . but you can bet that the way to keep the tongue from running off is to use a little "spiritual" salt on it.
Lord, You know we are prone to speak our own opinion and that gets us into trouble, as You did for Job, please do for us . . . "Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred" (6:24). Amen.
