Then keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. | Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. |
The tongue has the power over life and death; those who cherish it will enjoy its fruits. | Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. |
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A good man produces good from the store of goodness in his heart, whereas an evil man produces evil from the store of evil within him. For the mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart. | The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. |
Let no foul word ever pass your lips. Say only what is useful for edification, so that your words may benefit your listeners. | 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. |
He who guards his mouth makes his life secure, but one who talks excessively ensures his own downfall. | Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. |
Do not repay evil with evil or abuse with abuse. On the contrary, repay with a blessing. This is what you were called to do, so that you might inherit a blessing. | Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. |
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but an undisciplined tongue crushes the spirit. | A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. |
For all of us fall short in many ways. Anyone who never makes a mistake in speech has reached perfection and is able to control every part of his body. | For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. |
When you pray do not go on babbling endlessly as the pagans do, for they believe that they are more likely to be heard because of their many words. | And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. |
I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to render an account for every careless word they utter. | I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak. |
Rather, professing truth and love, we will in all things grow into him who is the head, Christ. | Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. |
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; if he closes his lips, he is regarded as intelligent. | Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. |
Where many words are spoken, sin is not absent, but whoever restrains his tongue is prudent. | When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. |
If in speaking I use human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. | If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. |
Remember this, my beloved brethren: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to anger. | Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. |
Speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves, and defend the rights of the destitute. | Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. |
A man is joyful when he utters apt answers, and even more satisfying is a word in season. | To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! |
A gentle reply turns away wrath, but a harsh word arouses anger. | A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. |
Dear children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. | Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. |
The words of a wise man win favor, but a fool’s tongue is his undoing. | The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. |
One who gossips reveals secrets, but a trustworthy man keeps things hidden. | Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. |
Out of the same mouth flow blessings and curses. This should not be so, my brethren. | From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. |
While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud cast a shadow over them. Then a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” | He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” |
My mouth is filled with your praises as I relate your glory all day long. | My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day. |
If your brother wrongs you, go and take up the matter with him when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. | If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. |