² How long will you make my life bitter, crushing me with words?

¹⁶ So day after day she gave him no peace, for ever questioning him till his soul was troubled to death.

⁷ And kept safe Lot, the upright man, who was deeply troubled by the unclean life of the evil-doers

⁸ (Because the soul of that upright man living among them was pained from day to day by seeing and hearing their crimes):

⁶ And the tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell.

⁷ For every sort of beast and bird and every living thing on earth and in the sea has been controlled by man and is under his authority;

⁸ But the tongue may not be controlled by man; it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death.

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.

¹⁸ There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again.

³ Who make their tongues sharp like a sword, and whose arrows are pointed, even bitter words;

⁷ See, hate is dropping from their lips; curses are on their tongues: they say, Who gives attention to it?

²¹ The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, but they were sharp swords.

¹⁰ The cruel words of my haters are like a crushing of my bones; when they say to me every day, Where is your God?

¹ <To the chief music-maker. A Psalm. Of David.> Will you for ever put me out of your memory, O Lord? will your face for ever be turned away from me?

² Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am wasted away: make me well, for even my bones are troubled.

³ My soul is in bitter trouble; and you, O Lord, how long?

² By the life of God, who has taken away my right; and of the Ruler of all, who has made my soul bitter;

² How long will it be before you have done talking? Get wisdom, and then we will say what is in our minds.

² How long will you say these things, and how long will the words of your mouth be like a strong wind?

¹⁰ And they gave a great cry, saying, How long will it be, O Ruler, holy and true, before you take your place as judge and give punishment for our blood to those on the earth?