Bible reference verses are from Expanded Bible version:
Psalm 141:3 - "Lord, help me control my tongue; help me be careful about what I say."
Proverb 10:19 - "If you talk a lot , you are sure to sin; if you are wise, you will keep quiet."
Proverb 13:3 - "Those who are careful about what they say protect their lives, but whoever speaks without thinking will be ruined."
Proverb 18:21 - "What you say can mean life or death. Those who speak with care will be rewarded.
Proverb 21:23 - "Those who are careful about what they say keep themselves out of [guard themselves from] trouble."
James 3:1-12 - "My ·brothers and sisters [ fellow believers], not many of you should become teachers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly [Luke 12:48]. We all make many mistakes [stumble in many ways]. If people never said anything wrong [did not stumble in speech/teaching/word], they would be perfect and able to control their entire selves, too [ bridle their whole body also]. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can control [guide; direct] their whole bodies.
Also a ship is very big, and it is pushed by strong [fierce] winds. But a very small rudder controls [guides; steers] that big ship, making it go wherever the pilot wants. It is the same with the tongue. It is a small part [member] of the body, but it brags [boasts] about great things.
A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame. And the tongue is like a fire. It is a whole world of evil [iniquity; unrighteousness] among the parts of our bodies [our members]. The tongue spreads its evil through [pollutes; stains; corrupts] the whole body. The tongue is set on fire by hell and it starts a fire that influences all of life [the wheel of birth/life]. [For] People can tame every kind [species] of wild animal, bird, reptile, and fish, and they have tamed them, but no one can tame the tongue. It is wild and evil [or a restless evil; or an uncontrollable evil] and full of deadly poison.
We use our tongues to [With it we] praise [bless] our Lord and Father, but then [with it] we curse people, whom God made like Himself [in His likeness; Gen. 1:27]. Praises and curses come from the same mouth!
My brothers and sisters, this should not happen. Do good and bad water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree make olives, or can a grapevine make figs? No! And a well full of salty water cannot give good water.
Comments