A Prayer about the Hope for Our Foolish Mouths

Have you ever spoken foolish words?

“A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.” Proverbs 18:6

Holy Father,

How kind, helpful, and hopeful are your rebukes. 

While I hope my praying friends have not been as foolish as I, 

the fact is that we are all at times guilty 

of taking “no pleasure in understanding” (Prov. 18:2). 

We confess, we love “expressing [our] opinions,” (Prov. 18:2) 

without pausing to hear and understand others’ thoughts and feelings. 

In Proverbs 18, your Spirit addresses this kind of folly, 

reminding us that “If one gives an answer before he (or she) hears, 

it is his (or her) folly and shame” (Prov. 18:13). 

Jesus, our Savior, 

we turn to you for deliverance 

from our sinful tongues, our foolish pride. 

You alone are the Wise Man, 

the Living Word who shapes our words 

so they become bubbling brooks of grace and mercy (See Prov. 18:4). 

As we follow you in the path of humility, 

we yield our right to be offended (See Prov. 18:19). 

And as we learn to listen before speaking, 

humble ourselves before expressing opinions, 

we become more like you—

people whose tongues bring life (See Prov. 18:21), 

people who are friends who stick closer 

than brothers and sisters. 

In Jesus’ saving name we pray. Amen.

Read Proverbs 18.