| Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. | Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. |
| But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. | Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. |
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| Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. | The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
| A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. | A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. |
| Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. | Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. |
| He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. | Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. |
| Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. | Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. |
| A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. | The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. |
| For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. | We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. |
| And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. | And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. |
| But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. | But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. |
| Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. | Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. |
| In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. | Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. |
| So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. | My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. |
| Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. | Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. |
| A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is! | A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! |
| A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. | A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. |
| My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. | Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. |
| The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up. | Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. |
| A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter. | A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. |
| Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. | Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. |
| While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” | While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” |
| Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day. | My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. |
| Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. | If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. |
| Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. | What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs. |
