He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.
Proverbs ties how much a man says to how much he knows. If knowledge shows itself by holding back, what does a flood of words reveal?
The verse does not say the wise man has nothing to say. It says he declines to say it all. One writer explains what lies behind the restraint:
He who has knowledge spares his words, aware of what is far better. The man of understanding has a cool spirit. He knows the harm done by acting without thought and rushing ahead.
The reason is simple. More words mean more chances to sin:
One who has true knowledge does not try to blurt out everything he knows. Instead he spares his words. He knows that many words always involve sin in some way. So, in a true sense of understanding, he has a calm spirit.
The second half of the verse moves from the mouth to the spirit behind it. Knowledge held with a hasty spirit is dangerous:
Some of us might be a little hasty in spirit. Thank God we have a greater Spirit than our spirit, the Holy Spirit. He can help us check that quick retort that might come to the lips when anger and feelings rise. I find this linked with knowledge. It is one thing to have knowledge, it is another thing to apply it... a great deal of knowledge of the Bible and of truth, used with an uncontrolled spirit, can cause much damage among believers.
A spirit leaves a longer mark than a sentence does. One writer weighs the two against each other:
A man's spirit is infinitely more valuable than his communications. I may say, by God's help, many a nice thing, and you may hear it, enjoy it, and then forget it. But if I have done anything nasty to you, you will never forget it.
Restraint has to be practised. One writer names both the guard on the mouth and the cost of dropping it:
There is a bridle needed also. So he who guards his mouth keeps his soul. As a good man said, one should think twice before speaking once... On the other hand, another man goes about loudly. He opens his lips wide to tell everything he thinks, feels, or hears about others. He will have the destruction his malicious folly deserves.
Even a good intention can misfire:
You have to weigh the time, the tone, the way, and the end. Otherwise a fair intention may not only fail, but provoke... To keep one's mouth and tongue as in God's presence is to keep the soul from troubles without end.
Verse 28 pushes the point to its comic edge: shut lips can buy a reputation the man has not earned. Commentators read this as showing how highly silence is valued — even its counterfeit passes for wisdom.
The chapter closes with two verses which show the value of that silence which is said to be golden, and even of that which is only leaden, not positive but merely negative or seeming... even a fool, when through the experience of many a knock he learns to hold his tongue, gains credit for a wisdom he does not deserve.
The proverb praises restraint, not muteness. Elsewhere the same writer gives good speech its own high value:
Silence is not always golden; but "the tongue of the righteous is choice silver"... How powerful is the soft and pure answer, not only to turn away wrath, but to check heat and pride and self-will!
Another writer marks where the line falls:
There is a time to speak, and a time to be silent... So with us there is a time to be silent when it is a question of ourselves. But there is a time when it would be treason to be silent — when it is a question of the glory of God.
- Knowledge holds back. The man who knows does not blurt out all he knows. He spares his words, aware of something far better.
- Held-back words shrink sin. Many words always involve sin somewhere. Fewer words, fewer chances to sin.
- The spirit cools the knowledge. A hasty spirit turns knowledge into damage. The Holy Spirit checks the quick retort before it reaches the lips.
- The spirit outlives the sentence. A man's spirit is worth far more than his communications — good words are forgotten, a nasty act never is.
- Restraint is not muteness. Be silent about yourself; but when God's glory is the question, silence would be treason.
Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
Proverbs 17 ends with a strange compliment: a fool can pass for wise just by keeping quiet. Is that praise for silence, or a warning about how we judge by appearances?
The verse closes a pair with verse 27. One commentator reads the two together as two grades of silence: one real, one only an imitation.
The chapter closes with two verses. They show the value of the silence people call golden, and also of the silence that is only leaden — not something real, only negative or seeming. He who has knowledge spares his words, aware of what is far better. The man of understanding has a cool spirit. He knows the harm that thoughtlessness and haste do. This is so true that even a fool gains credit for wisdom he does not deserve, once many a blow has taught him to hold his tongue. And the man who keeps his lips shut as a habit is counted prudent.
Even an empty man gains something by keeping quiet. Another writer links the calm spirit of verse 27 to the reputation others give the silent fool.
One who has true knowledge does not try to blurt out everything he knows. He spares his words, for he knows that a flood of words always involves sin in some way. So, in a true sense of understanding, he has a calm spirit (v. 27). Others observe this, so that even though a man is a fool, he will be counted wise if he keeps quiet (v. 28). At least in that instance he is not acting as a fool.
The more we say, the more room we leave for sin. That truth becomes a prayer.
"When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent." So let us not fail to ask the Lord to guard our mouth. Let Him keep watch over the door of our lips, as in Psalm 141:3. Our evil nature is too ready to watch our neighbour's mouth, to the shame of faith and love.
A reputation for wisdom is not wisdom. Writing elsewhere about the fool who finds wisdom out of reach, the same writer shows what silence can hide and what it cannot fix.
How well it is said that "wisdom is too high for a fool!" He is self-satisfied, does not know his own emptiness, and does not ask God for what he lacks. So far, he does well not to open his mouth where counsel is sought; for what could a fool say?
Now put the silent fool beside the loud one. One writer describes the man who pours out everything he knows, and names the flattering label he hides behind.
A fool will pour out all that he knows, or thinks he knows. He pays no regard to the need or condition of those he speaks to, and never considers the damage he might cause. He may even pride himself on being "frank and outspoken," while actually being crude and ill-mannered. A wise man, on the other hand, will be careful to weigh well what he says.
If silence can buy an undeserved reputation, admitting ignorance can buy a deserved one. Another writer holds up Moses, and traces our reluctance to admit ignorance to a mistaken fear for our reputation.
He knew better than to presume to speak when he had nothing to say... We are often so silly that we are ashamed to expose our ignorance. We foolishly imagine that saying "I don't know" damages our reputation for wisdom and intelligence. It is a complete mistake. Those few words express true moral greatness. We always attach much more weight to the words of a man who never pretends to knowledge he does not have. But a man who is always ready to speak in flippant self-confidence, we are never ready to hear.
- Golden silence. Verse 27 is real wisdom sparing its words. Verse 28 is only "leaden" silence — seeming, not the real thing.
- Borrowed credit. The fool who has learned from hard experience to hold his tongue "gains credit for wisdom he does not deserve."
- Real gain. Even so, he gains something: in that moment he is at least not acting as a fool, and a flood of words never lacks sin.
- Unfilled emptiness. Shut lips hide a man's emptiness from others, never from himself. The fool is self-satisfied and does not ask God for what he lacks — yet he still does well to stay quiet when counsel is sought.
- Better than seeming. The honest "I don't know" earns weight that pretended knowledge never can; ask the Lord to keep the door of your lips.