He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. A fools lips enter into contention. Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee? For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
The tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so. Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him? For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
For the word is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
