| 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, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into 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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| For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. | 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. |
| Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. | The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. |
| The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the 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 evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. | 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. |
| Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives; those who open wide their lips come to ruin. | Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. |
| Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might 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 gentle 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. |
| When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of 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. |
| I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter. | But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. |
| Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent. | Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. |
| When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech. | Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. |
| You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. | My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. |
| Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. | Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. |
| To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone, and a word in 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. |
| Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. | Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. |
| Words spoken by the wise bring them favor, but the lips of fools consume them. | Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. |
| A gossip goes about telling secrets, but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence. | A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. |
| While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to 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!” |
| From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. | Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. |
| My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all day long. | My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. |
| If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. | 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 said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from 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. |
