²³ Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.

¹³ In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man; But the righteous shall come out of trouble.

³ He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; `But' he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

¹⁹ In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.

²⁷ He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

²⁸ Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is `esteemed as' prudent.

²⁶ If any man thinketh himself to be religious, while he bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his heart, this man's religion is vain.

² For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.

³ Now if we put the horses' bridles into their mouths that they may obey us, we turn about their whole body also.

⁴ Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, are yet turned about by a very small rudder, whither the impulse of the steersman willeth.

⁵ So the tongue also is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how much wood is kindled by how small a fire!

⁶ And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.

⁷ For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind.

⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; `it is' a restless evil, `it is' full of deadly poison.

⁹ Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God:

¹⁰ out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

¹¹ Doth the fountain send forth from the same opening sweet `water' and bitter?

¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a vine figs? Neither `can' salt water yield sweet.

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? let him show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom.