Few tests reveal the depth of wisdom like the way we handle conflict. Proverbs 17 reminds us that words, once unleashed, can wound deeply and divide quickly, yet silence and patience can heal what pride would destroy. The wise learn the power of restraint, choosing to listen before speaking, to forgive before fighting, and to make peace before tempers flare. Just as a breached dam unleashes uncontrollable waters, so an unguarded tongue releases chaos, God calls His people to a higher path—to seek reconciliation instead of retaliation, to build bridges instead of walls, and to let humility, not anger, have the final word.
