| Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies. | Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. |
| But speaking truth in love, we 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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| In praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. | And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. |
| Death and life are in the power of the tongue; 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. |
| The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings out that which is good, and the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings out that which is 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 speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it 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. |
| He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. | Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. |
| Not rendering evil for evil or insult for insult; but instead 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 gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. | The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. |
| For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also. | 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. |
| I tell you that every idle word that men 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, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning. | Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. |
| In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely. | Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues. |
| So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and 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. |
| Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. | Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. |
| Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! | A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! |
| A gentle 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’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and 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 a fool is swallowed by his own lips. | Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. |
| One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret. | A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. |
| Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, 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. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom 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!” |
| My mouth shall be filled with your praise, with your honor all day long. | My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long. |
| If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back 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 said in the darkness will be heard in the light. What you have spoken in the ear in the 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. |
