Knowledge verses Understanding

A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, 

and a man of understanding is even-tempered. 

Proverbs 17.27

            When I read this verse today I was asking myself over and over again, "what is the difference between knowledge and understanding"? Also, I was wondering what God was trying to tell me with this verse. Let's break it down. The first part says "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint". In other words, a person who is wise will think before they say something. How many are the times that we said something that we later regretted? If we have this knowledge we think before speaking. We keep in mind that our words can either bring peace or an argument to who we are talking to. We need to be careful with this because our words have power. For example, if you tell a child a negative comment, they can grow up believing it and destroy their self esteem. You might even forget what you said, but if they saved that word in their heart then it can influence their life. That is why when we are upset, angry, frustrated, it is better not to say anything it all. Because we can cause a problem that didn't need to be there. 

             The second part of the verse says " . . . and a man of understanding is even-tempered". If a person has this understanding they are cautious with their temper, their emotions. Why? Because a person understands that their attitude, they temper can hurt the people around then. This is where knowledge and understanding are separated. For example, when a person is angry they are not using their knowledge. The ignore their knowledge and act on how their feeling. They don't stop to think that their reaction will hurt someone's feelings. That is why the man that has understanding is even-tempered because this man doesn't act based on how he is feeling, he stops to think "No, I will not yell, I will not be aggressive because I will hurt my family". This man uses his understanding.

                Still can't tell knowledge and understanding apart? How about this. A person knows (knowledge) that saying bad words do not please God. Therefore, he/she watches what words come out of their mouth.This is common sense to them because they know what they can and cannot say. A person of understanding knows what is right and wrong, but also why things are right and wrong. This is harder because a person many times, does not observe they way they act around other people. Sometimes we may be acting rude around others and not even notice it. The man of understanding not only knows what is right and wrong but also, he is also able to apply it in his life and understand why it is right/wrong.