The Quiet

Proverbs 15:18

English Standard Version

Proverbs 16:32

18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,

    but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

English Standard Version

Application: A lot of times if you simply don’t react, or don’t give people the dramatic reaction they are looking for, you can prevent a fight. Don’t be too easily goaded. You can end a lot of things by not being too easily goaded.

32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

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Proverbs 3:30

New International Version

Proverbs 16:28 ESV

30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—

    when they have done you no harm.

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Proverbs 20:19 ESV

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

Proverbs 14:25

English Standard Version

Application: Is your circle of the internet one where people go around starting “drama” by telling lies about others? Do you know someone who does this? Get away from them. Have you done this? Think before you accuse someone of something.

25 A truthful witness saves lives,

    but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

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Proverbs 15:1

English Standard Version

Application: By being calm you can prevent people from lashing back at you and escalating. You can even de-escalate if you keep calm.

15 A soft answer turns away wrath,

    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

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Proverbs 18:12

English Standard Version

Proverbs 15:33

12 Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,

    but humility comes before honor.

English Standard Version

Application: “Humility comes before honor”- you don’t have to be right or appear to be right. That won’t help you before God. It’s pride if you have to win every argument, if you have to be right every time.

33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,

    and humility comes before honor.

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Proverbs 13:20

English Standard Version

Proverbs 14:7

20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,

    but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

English Standard Version

Application: Just leave that toxic message board. Are you on a sector of the internet where they encourage you to hate other people in your life, and are dragging you into foolish mindsets, encouraging people to more and more extreme ideology, stirring up anxiety, etc? Get out of there.

7 Leave the presence of a fool,

    for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

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Proverbs 14:15

English Standard Version

Application: It’s important to find sources and to check if things are true before you spread them! Don’t believe that something is true just because you read it on the internet.

15 The simple believes everything,

    but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

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Proverbs 10:23

English Standard Version

Proverbs 15:21

23 Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,

    but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

English Standard Version

Proverbs 26:18-19

21 Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,

    but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

English Standard Version

Application: It is neither safe nor wise to hang out with the type of people on the internet who think that trolling, provoking other people, and stirring up trouble is fun. Whether it’s going to a different website to provoke and cause chaos to the people there, or posting flame bait, or leading people on with various forms of deception for entertainment, God hates this kind of behavior.

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death

19 is the man who deceives his neighbor

    and says, “I am only joking!”

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Proverbs 29:9

English Standard Version

Application: DON’T FEED THE TROLLS

9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,

    the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

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Proverbs 9:7-9

New International Version

Proverbs 23:9

7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;

    whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.

8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;

    rebuke the wise and they will love you.

9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

English Standard Version

Application: Call the papers, somebody on the internet is wrong!

9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

    for he will despise the good sense of your words.

Seriously, don’t feed the trolls.  You don’t need to write an essay to explain to every wrong person why they are wrong. Unless they are sincerely interested in listening to you, it will fall on deaf ears. Ask yourself if this person seems like they would actually benefit from being corrected.

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Proverbs 12:15

New International Version

Proverbs 13:10

15 The way of fools seems right to them,

    but the wise listen to advice.

New International Version

Proverbs 15:32

10 Where there is strife, there is pride,

    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

English Standard Version

Application: Are you listening when other people tell you that you are out of line?

32 Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,

    but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

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Proverbs 15:28

English Standard Version

Application: Notice how the righteous “ponders”, but the wicked simply “pours out”. Think before you type something!

28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

    but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

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Proverbs 10:19

English Standard Version

Proverbs 17:27-28

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

    but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

English Standard Version

Application: Don’t post too much, don’t be easily angered. The more you type the more likely you are to say something wrong. Don’t be easily provoked. Even if you don’t have anything intelligent to say, if you withhold comment, you can even have a reputation for being smart.

27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,

    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;

    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

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Proverbs 11:12

New International Version

Application: Don’t name-call people on the internet.

12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,

    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.

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Proverbs 21:24

English Standard Version

Proverbs 22:10

24 “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man

    who acts with arrogant pride.

English Standard Version

Proverbs 26:20-21

10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,

    and quarreling and abuse will cease.

English Standard Version

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,

    and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

    so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

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Application:

Just ban that guy from the server.

Is there one person who seems to be constantly causing issues? Is it because they’re too full of themselves and can’t stop making trouble? Just kick him out, seriously.

Proverbs 21:11

English Standard Version

Application: So you had to ban that guy from the server. If his misdeed was public, it can benefit others to explain why he got blocked and what happened so that other people don’t do the same thing. When troublemakers don’t just get away with things, other people can benefit from the negative example.

11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;

    when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

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Proverbs 16:21

English Standard Version

Application: Or: “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”.

21 The wise of heart is called discerning,

    and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

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Proverbs 18:2

English Standard Version

Application: I feel like this one doesn’t even need any comment.

2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,

    but only in expressing his opinion.

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Proverbs 18:13

English Standard Version

Application: Read! Don’t just tl;dr something and then react. Don’t just react to what you thought someone said.

13 If one gives an answer before he hears,

    it is his folly and shame.

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Proverbs 18:17

English Standard Version

Application: Don’t just believe some one-sided callout post on face value. You should always listen to the other side of the story before you decide who is right and who is wrong.

17 The one who states his case first seems right,

    until the other comes and examines him.

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Proverbs 29:11

English Standard Version

Application: Don’t overshare on the internet. Some things you need to keep to yourself. Don't just say every thought that runs through your head.

11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,

    but a wise man quietly holds it back.

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Proverbs 20:3

English Standard Version

Proverbs 26:17

3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,

    but every fool will be quarreling.

English Standard Version

Application: Fools be quarreling. When you happen to see two people fighting, don’t get involved! It’s like jumping into a dogfight. Why would you do that? You literally have no dog in this fight.

17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own

    is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

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Proverbs 25:11-12

English Standard Version

Application: None of this is to say you should never say anything on the internet. There are many times it is quite wise and beneficial to say something or even correct people.

11 A word fitly spoken

    is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold

    is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

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Proverbs 26:4-5

English Standard Version

Application: These two proverbs contrast each other to make a point. Sometimes someone is being so stupid that to answer them is to stoop to their level. You simply shouldn’t even dignify that kind of garbage with a response.

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,

    lest you be like him yourself.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

    lest he be wise in his own eyes.

On the other hand, sometimes someone is being so foolish that you just have to reply to them, otherwise they will get away with it.