The mouth of the righteous
is a fountain of life . . .
The tongue of the wise brings healing.
Truthful lips endure forever
. . . The Lord delights in men who are truthful.
The tongue has the power of life and death.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
He who guards his lips guards
his soul,
but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
When words are many sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.
A man who lacks judgement derides
his neighbor,
Mockers stir up a city. . . do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
He who covers over an offense
promotes love,
but he who repeats the matter separates close friends.
Starting a quarrel is like
breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
He who loves a quarrel loves sin.
It is a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
Without wood a fire goes out,
without gossip a quarrel dies down.
A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
He who loves a pure heart and
whose speech is gracious
will have the king for his friend.
33. "Make a tree good
and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad,
for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
34. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For
out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
35. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him,
and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
36. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment
for every careless word they have spoken.
37. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will
be condemned."
9. With the tongue we praise
our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's
likeness.
10. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should
not be.
11. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?