Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 – The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?

1. Where all speech originates: Matthew 12:33-37, Proverbs 4:23

2. Speech from a wise person

   1. It models Christ – Luke 4:22, Psalm 45:2
   2. It builds one another up – Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 4:6, Proverbs 31:26
   3. It brings healing to the hurting – Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 15:4

3. Speech from a foolish person

   1. It reveals all-consuming selfishness – Ecclesiastes 10-12b, Proverbs 18:1-2
   2. It leads to significant relational damage – Ecclesiastes 10:13, Proverbs 18:7
   3. It shows a lack of self-control – Ecclesiastes 10:14, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 13:3