話當怎麼說？從寡少與不言開始（箴17章）

寡少言語的有知識．性情溫良的有聰明。愚昧人若靜默不言、也可算為智慧．閉口不說、也可算為聰明。（箴 17：27-28）

箴言這兩節經文，給人深深的省思。這段經文，教導我們說話的藝術。常言道：「話多不如話少、話少不如話好。」也就是提到說話常常是改變情勢的重要關鍵。聖經雅各書有一段專講說話的注意事項：

我的弟兄們、不要多人作師傅、因為曉得我們要受更重的判斷。原來我們在許多事上都有過失．若有人在話語上沒有過失、他就是完全人、也能勒住自己的全身。（雅 3：1-2）

這裡說一個人完不完全，在神眼中的標準之一竟是「說話」。因為「若有人在話語上沒有過失、他就是完全人。」這裡也提到人會在說話上出毛病，就是因為「多人作師傅」，也就是認為自己是專業的、什麼都懂的人，急著想要發表高見，想要影響別人，卻不知不覺批評了別人使人不舒服，或造成渲然大波。最後往往傷害別人、或傷害團體，甚至傷害了自己。而且以「師傅」自居，在神面前就會以師傅的等級接受要求，「要受更重的判斷」。因為：

惟有那不知道的、作了當受責打的事、必少受責打．因為多給誰、就向誰多取．多託誰、就向誰多要。（路 12：48）

那該怎麼辦？箴言這裡教我們，「寡少言語的有智慧」，身邊「有智慧」的，不是那些喜歡長篇大論、高談闊論的人，反而是那些「寡少言語的」。這些人不會急著發表意見，他們的智慧就在於他們會等候，懂得察言觀色，認清現在的情勢，知道目前的風向。因為或許眼前這群人是愚昧人、褻慢人，若急著將所謂的真理提出來，想要教導別人，可能會遭受群起而攻的問題，或是產生錯誤的謠言，後果可能不堪設想。

這世界有禍了、因為將人絆倒．絆倒人的事是免不了的、但那絆倒人的有禍了。（太 18：7）

不急著發言的人，通常有「性情溫良」的態度。那些急著發言的人，是無法與「性情溫良」畫上等號的，因為急躁。

但是我們不見得都是有智慧的人，那該怎麼辦？這裡還有一個教導，就是「閉口不言」。其實一個人不講話，就沒人知道他所站的立場，與他的智慧程度。這樣的人將如深潭，表面平靜無波，底下卻深不可測，甚至有暗流。但是「閉口不言」，也可以欺敵，雖可能真的不懂，卻因為沈默的態度，令人望而生畏。

許多智慧人都有這段經文所說的態度，值得我們效法與學習。如：智慧人但以理，在面對獅子坑刑罰前的控告，聖經中並沒有看到他為此辯駁。（參 但六章）；耶穌在面對大祭司的控告，也近乎不言。（參 可 15：4）。

另外，如何判斷身邊真正的「高手」？或許可以從「寡少言語」、「性情溫良」、「靜默不言」、「閉口不說」來判斷。雖然其中還是有可能有「愚昧人」，但是相信這位愚昧人在採取這樣的行動時，他已跳脫愚昧，進入智慧了。至於一個人，即使過去可能如何地有智慧，一旦他不知「寡少言語」、「性情溫良」、「靜默不言」、「閉口不說」，當他在急躁發言、態度激烈的當下，已經退化成愚昧人。

你們中間誰是有智慧有見識的呢？他就當在智慧的溫柔上、顯出他的善行來。（雅 3：13）

By Isaiah Kao

How Should We Speak? Starting from Withholds Words and Keeps Silent (Proverbs 17)

One who withholds his words has knowledge,

And one who has a cool spirit is a person of understanding.

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;

When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent. (Proverbs 17:27–28, NASB 2020)

These two verses in Proverbs give us deep reflection. They teach us the art of speaking. There is a saying: “Fewer words are better than many words, and good words are better than few words.” Speech is often a key that changes situations.

The book of James gives a special warning about speech:

Do not become teachers in large numbers, my brothers, since you know that we who are teachers will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body as well. (James 3:1–2, NASB 2020)

Here we see that one measure of a person’s perfection in God’s eyes is his speech. “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man.” People often fail in speech because many consider themselves teachers,thinking they are experts who know everything. They rush to express opinions and try to influence others, yet unknowingly criticize and make others uncomfortable, even causing conflict. In the end, they may hurt others, the group, and themselves. Moreover, those who take the role of a "teacher" will be judged by that standard before God and “incur a stricter judgment.”

But the one who did not know it, and committed deeds deserving of a beating, will receive only a few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more. (Luke 12:48, NASB 2020)

So what should we do? Proverbs teaches us: “One who withholds his words has knowledge.” Truly wise people are not those who speak at length, but those who use few words. They do not rush to speak. Their wisdom is shown in waiting, observing, and understanding the situation. Sometimes the people in front of us may be foolish or mocking; speaking truth too quickly may lead to attack or misunderstanding, with serious consequences.

Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that person through whom the stumbling block comes! (Matthew 18:7, NASB 2020)

Those who do not rush to speak usually have a gentle spirit. Those who are quick to speak often lack this gentleness because they are impatient.

But we are not always wise—what should we do? There is another teaching: keep silent. When a person does not speak, others cannot easily know his position or level. Such a person is like deep water—calm on the surface, yet unfathomable underneath. Silence can even create a sense of awe. Even if one does not fully understand, silence may keep others from looking down on him.

Many wise people have this attitude, and it is worth learning. For example, Daniel did not defend himself when facing accusation before the lions’ den (Daniel 6), and Jesus spoke very little when facing accusation before the high priest (Mark 15:4).

So how can we recognize a truly skilled person? Perhaps by observing: ‘’few words‘’, ‘’a gentle spirit‘’, ‘’silence‘’, and ‘’restraint‘’. Although some may still be foolish, when they choose this way, they begin to move toward wisdom. On the other hand, even a wise person can fall back into foolishness when speaking hastily and harshly.

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. (James 3:13, NASB 2020)