Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince. | Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler. |
Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass. | May my teaching drop like the rain, my speech condense like the dew; like gentle rain on grass, like showers on new growth. |
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The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. | The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. |
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. | Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. |
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. | The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. |
Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. | Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. |
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. | Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. |
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. | Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. |
Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. | Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. |
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. | When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech. |
For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.” | For “Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it.” |
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. | 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. |
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. | 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. |