This is the second part of a 2-part series of Marriage Proverbs that are important to live by as it pertains to everyday living with each other as husband and wife. As we said in Part 1 of this series, The scriptures that teach us how to better live with each other, are the same scriptures that teach us how to better love each other within marriage. God wants us to show love to each other in both word and deed. And the book of Proverbs is a great guidebook for helping us to do just that.
So, please pray, and read the proverbs posted below to learn how to better live with each other in wisdom and love. As we’re told in Proverbs 1:5, “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” There is no better place to obtain wise guidance than in God’s word. Pray, read, and see what God is speaking to you, that you can apply to your marriage:
MARRIAGE PROVERBS for Everyday Living
The following are marriage proverbs as they pertain to:
Honesty, Integrity, Boasting, Jealousy, Deceit, Lying, Envy and Slandering
Remember:
• “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)
• “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Proverbs 27:2)
• “Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?” (Proverbs 27:4)
• “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.” (Proverbs 23:17)
Keep your eyes on your own path in your marriage. Don’t look at others in their marriages and wish that yours could be like theirs. It will only cause discontent. You don’t know what theirs is like behind closed doors. Plus, it’s fruitless to envy others when their path is not your path. Learn to “be content” in the circumstance you are in, and the path God is taking you.
• “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.” (Proverbs 19:1)
• “Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.” (Proverbs 28:18)
• “A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways.” (Proverbs 21:29)
• “A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” (Proverbs 26:28)
• “The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.” (Proverbs 21:6)
• “What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.” (Proverbs 19:22)
More Marriage Proverbs to Keep in Mind:
• “Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.” (Proverbs 20:19)
If your spouse is one who slanders, and spreads lies you need to put down very clear boundaries so you don’t get caught up in this behavior.
• “Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.” (Proverbs 26:24-26)
• “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.” (Proverbs 26:27)
• “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.” (Proverbs 19:9)
• “A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure.” (Proverbs 21:28)
• “A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.” (Proverbs 25:18)
• “A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.” (Proverbs 16:28)
• “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” (Proverbs 17:9)
And you can’t get much closer as friends, in human relationships, than a husband and wife.
Please Note What We’re Told in the Following Marriage Proverbs:
• “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.” (Proverbs 19:5)
• “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.” (Proverbs 19:9)
• “Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.” (Proverbs 4:24)
• “Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.” (Proverbs 24:26)
• “Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.” (Proverbs 28:14)
• “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
In the following marriage proverbs, let us not forget the importance of what we do within our marriages with:
Our Mouth, Tongue, Lips, Words, and What We Speak, and How We Talk
• “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.” (Proverbs 10:11)
The way you speak to your spouse—does it nourish, or does it assault?
• “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who live by it will eat its fruits.” (Proverbs 18:21)
• “From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.” (Proverbs 18:20)
• “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Proverbs 16:24)
• “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.” (Proverbs 21:21)
• “To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!” (Proverbs 15:23)
• “When words are many transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” (Proverbs 10:19)
Sometimes we say more than we should. Just because something comes into our minds, it doesn’t mean it should come out of our lips.
• “Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.” (Proverbs 26:23)
• “The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.” (Proverbs 10:21)
Do your words feed into your relationship? Or do they lack sense from a godly perspective?
Marriage Proverbs to Additionally Note:
• “A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.” (Proverbs 16:27)
• “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” (Proverbs 17:27)
• “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Proverbs 21:23)
• “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.” (Proverbs 15:1-2)
• “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4)
• “A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.” (Proverbs 18:19) [You feel imprisoned when toxic quarreling invades your space.]
• “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.” (Proverbs 23:9)
• “Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” (Proverbs 17:1)
• “Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.” (Proverbs 27:14)
• “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.” (Proverbs 17:14)
• “The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” (Proverbs 15:28)
• “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” (Proverbs 18:13)
• “To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!” (Proverbs 15:23)
• “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)
It’s Important to:
Look for ways to encourage and delight your spouse. Speak them and give them generously.
Even though the following is written in Ephesians 29-32, it supports the scriptures above:
• “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Here are a few questions to ask yourself: Do you speak to your spouse in corrupting ways? Does it reflect bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and/or malice?
If it is, you are to put it away from you. By not doing so, you will grieve God. Instead you are to speak words that build up, and gives grace to everyone who hears… especially your marriage partner.
The following are Marriage Proverbs for us to follow that pertain to:
Pride, Arrogance, and Humility
Also, do you project puffed up pride or godly wisdom? Be truthful.
• “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.” (Proverbs 21:4)
• “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
• “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.” (Proverbs 29:23)
• “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 18:12)
• “The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4)
• “Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 16:5)
• “Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.” (Proverbs 24:1-2)
It’s important to be careful of the friends you spend time with.
Also:
• “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:17-18)
• “’Scoffer’ is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride.” (Proverbs 21:24)
• “It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.” (Proverbs 25:27)
• “There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.” (Proverbs 30:12)
• “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
• “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 15:33)
• “Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.” (Proverbs 18:12)
• “Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.” (Proverbs 25:14)
Remember what we’re told in Proverbs 11:29:
• “Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind.”
Below are marriage proverbs we need to live by as they pertain to the issues of:
Rebuking, Wrath, Anger, Temper, and Strife
• “Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” (Proverbs 27:5)
• “A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.” (Proverbs 29:22)
• “A man of great wrath will pay the penalty for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.” (Proverbs 19:19)
This shows the importance of putting down healthy boundaries and sticking to them.
• “For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.” (Proverbs 26:20)
• “Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.” (Proverbs 26:17)
• “As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.” (Proverbs 26:21)
• “It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.” (Proverbs 20:3)
• “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.” (Proverbs 15:18)
• “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Proverbs 16:32)
• “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19:11) “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” (Proverbs 14:29)
• “If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.” (Proverbs 30:32-33)
• “Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will discover good.” (Proverbs 19:8)
Marriage Proverbs Pertaining to the Wife:
• “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.” (Proverbs 14:1)
• “It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.” (Proverbs 21:9; also Proverbs 25:24)
• “…A wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.” (Proverbs 19:13b)
• “A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one’s right hand.” (Proverbs 27:15-16)
• “It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.” (Proverbs 21:19)
• “…House and wealth are inherited from fathers. But a prudent wife is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 19:14)
• “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.” (Proverbs 31:10-12) (Plus, look at Proverbs 31:13-24.)
• [An excellent wife] “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.'” (Proverbs 31:25-29)
May the following marriage proverbs be a warning to us all on the issues of:
Work, Self-control, Being Idle, Being a Sluggard, Treasures, Riches, also Drunkenness, and Gluttony
• “Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.” (Proverbs 24:27)
• “Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.” (Proverbs 28:19)
• “Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.” (Proverbs 21:17)
• “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.” (Proverbs 28:22)
• “A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.” (Proverbs 28:25)
• “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)
• “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” (Proverbs 28:20)
• “Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.” (Proverbs 19:5)
• “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:33-34)
• “As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed. The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.” (Proverbs 26:14-16)
• “The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.” (Proverbs 21:25)
Note the Following Marriage Proverbs and Apply Them to Your Everyday Living:
• “The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.” (Proverbs 21:6)
• “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.” (Proverbs 28:6)
• “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.” (Proverbs 20:17)
• “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.” (Proverbs 21:20)
Be forewarned:
• “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)
• “Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.” (Proverbs 23:20-21) [Also read: Proverbs 23:29-35.]
• “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” (Proverbs 25:28)
As you read all of the Marriage Proverbs posted above and the other scriptures throughout the Bible, remember again the following warning:
• “Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind.” (Proverbs 11:29)
In wisdom, though:
• “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you. Bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.” (Proverbs 3:3-4)
It is our prayer that these Marriage Proverbs will help you in your everyday living with your spouse.
Cindy and Steve Wright
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