A few years ago, I felt a strong pull to slow down—not in life, but in how I approached Scripture.

You see, most of us read verses the way we scroll through headlines. Quick. Surface-level. Just enough to move on. But I began to realize something: the power isn’t just in the verse—it’s in the depth of it. Every word. Every phrase. Every pause.

That’s what led me to write Scripture Breakdowns: 12 Pivotal Verses Unpacked Line by Line.

In this book, I broke 12 Bible verses down phrase by phrase, digging into the deeper meaning behind what was written so that we could truly understand what is being said… and more importantly, what it means for how we live.

Because transformation doesn’t come from reading more—it comes from understanding more. What you’re about to read is an excerpt from that journey. A closer look at a verse you may have seen before—but perhaps never quite like this.

Let’s break Proverbs 13:3 down.

“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.”

Those Who

This principle applies to everyone (those who). Solomon is saying anyone who wants to live life to the fullest must apply themselves to this truth. It is not just for the “positive people” in life; this promise is for anyone, even the most pessimistic of them all. To think that you are just being a realist can easily become an excuse not to live by faith. We must understand that we are all called to live in a way that speaks life and not death.

Guard Their Lips

Guard means to keep watch over, fortify, and to protect. You have to protect the way you talk, for the way you talk determines the future you experience. You must protect your words with the utmost care and intention. Guarding your lips means you have to be mindful and strategic about the words you use and the phrases you allow to come out of your mouth. There is incredible power in your words. God used words to create the universe…He spoke it into existence. Your words have creative power to build up or tear down your future. And notice it says “their lips.” You are responsible for your words. No one can guard them for you; it is your duty to keep watch over how you talk.

Preserve Their Lives

This means that the right words will literally preserve your life. Preserve means to keep well, be healthy, or to keep alive. Your words can keep you spiritually well, healthy, and alive! You can’t allow negative words that are fear-filled rather than faith-filled to bring death to your spiritual life. Preservation is the promise or product of speaking by faith and with faith. The result is a preserved life instead of decay and corruption.

But Those Who

Here is the condition. If you don’t choose to guard your lips, then there is a penalty. So, if you choose not to keep watch over your words and not believe that they are incredibly powerful, there is a consequence for it. He uses the phrase, but, this is the part where Solomon is getting ready to tell us about those who don’t follow this principle.

Speak Rashly

Speaking rashly is about letting the tyranny of the moment dictate what you do. It is about being out of control with your words. This happens when you allow hurt, bitterness, or fear to control you. It is about being reactive instead of proactive with your words. Speaking rashly is to be without a guard allowing whatever wants to come out…come out. People with no guard have no power. Power comes from self-control.

Will Come To Ruin

The penalty for being unguarded and speaking rashly is ruin. And rest assured that when you don’t have a lip guard, you will come to ruin. It is by God’s law that your lips determine your future. When you don’t follow God’s leading with your words, it will…not might…not maybe…not we’ll see…it will bring you to ruin somehow, someway. The good news is that you can right your wrongs by changing the words you use and by combating negativity with faith. The moment you speak something negative or rashly, just cancel it out by immediately rejecting it and speaking with faith. Destroy the power of rashness by faithfulness to God’s promises.