Words, Words, Words

Sermon Text

Ecclesiastes 10:11-15

11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed;
The babbler is no different.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,
But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;
13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness,
And the end of his talk is raving madness.
14 A fool also multiplies words.
No man knows what is to be;
Who can tell him what will be after him?
15 The labor of fools wearies them,
For they do not even know how to go to the city!

New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

Text: Ecclesiastes 10:11–15
Theme: Words reveal wisdom or folly

Main Ideas

• The Danger of the Tongue (v. 11)

  • Foolish words are like a serpent’s bite—sudden, poisonous, and dangerous.

  • Even the skilled “snake charmer” can still be bitten; wisdom requires humility and caution.

  • When faced with biting words, the biblical response is prayerful dependence on the Lord (Psalm 140).

• Gracious Words of the Wise (v. 12a)

  • The wise person’s speech is marked by grace, kindness, and life-giving truth.

  • Words reflect the heart; transformed hearts produce edifying speech.

  • Jesus is the perfect model—full of grace and truth, speaking even hard words for the good of others.

• Self-Destructive Speech of the Fool (vv. 12b–14)

  • Foolish words eventually consume the speaker himself.

  • The fool multiplies words, moves from nonsense to madness, and claims knowledge of the future he does not possess.

  • Excessive talking does not equal wisdom; restraint is often the wiser path.

• Foolish Words Lead to Fruitless Works (v. 15)

  • The labor of fools exhausts them because it lacks direction and understanding.

  • The fool boasts but cannot even “find the city”—his efforts lead nowhere.

• Gospel Connection

  • By nature, we are all fools with unclean lips.

  • In Christ, we are given new hearts and empowered by the Spirit to speak words of grace.

  • Sanctification includes the ongoing renewal of our speech.

• When are you most tempted to speak rashly or defensively?

• How do your words tend to affect others—do they leave “honey or poison” behind?

• In what ways does social media encourage foolish speech?

• How does remembering Christ’s grace reshape the way you speak to others?

• What would it look like to more intentionally preserve your neighbor’s good name?

• Fool (Biblical): One who lives without reverent submission to God, not merely someone unintelligent.

• Gracious Speech: Words that build up, reflect truth, and flow from love.

• Sanctification: The ongoing work of God’s Spirit conforming believers to Christ.

• Ninth Commandment: God’s law guarding truth, reputation, and integrity in speech.