HOW DO YOU USE YOUR TONGUE?

LASHAN HARA

Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
He who keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps his soul from trouble.

A talebearer reveals secrets,
his words are as wounds which go down
into the innermost parts of the belly.
His tongue plans destruction like a sharp razor,
working deceitfully; with flattering lips
and a double heart does he speak.
He whets his tongue like a sword
and bends his bow to shoot his arrows; bitter words, lies.
He shoots in secret and encourages himself in evil matters.
He communes of laying snares, privately, for he says,
“who shall see me?”

Is there iniquity in my tongue?
Cannot my taste discern perverse things?

Look well to the ways of your household
and eat not the bread of idleness.
O thou deceitful tongue!
Learn not to be idle, wandering from house to house,
becoming tattlers, busybodies,
and speaking things you ought not.
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks!
By your words you shall be justified,
and by your words you shall be condemned.
Speak not evil, one of another.

Bridle your tongue!
Open your mouth with wisdom
and on your tongue, the law of kindness.
Be swift to hear, slow to speak
and slow to wrath.

We put bits in the horses’ mouths that they may obey us;
and we turn about their whole body.
Also the ships, which though they be so great
and are driven of fierce winds,
yet are they turned about with a very small helm.
Even so the tongue is a little member.
If any offend not in word, the same is perfect
and able to bridle the whole body.

For every kind of beasts, birds,
serpents and of things in the sea
is tamed and has been tamed of mankind.
But the tongue can no man tame;
it is a fire full of deadly poison, an unruly evil,
and a world of iniquity.

If you love life and will see good days,
refrain your tongue from evil
and you lips that they speak no guile.

By Robin Lindh
kjv