Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince. | Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a ruler. |
My doctrine will drop as the rain. My speech will condense as the dew, as the misty rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb. | 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. The expanse shows his handiwork. Day after day they pour out speech, and night after night they display 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 Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth. | 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 yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you. | Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. |
My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. | Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. |
Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. | Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. |
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. | 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. |
In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely. | 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 keep 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. Anyone who doesn’t stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also. | 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. |
Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate. | Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. |