The Power of the Tongue
If you’ve been following the lectionary texts of Holy Scripture, you’ve heard quite a lot lately about wisdom and the power of words. Much of what comes from within, from the heart, and defiles a person manifests itself in words as much as in deeds: malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, folly, etc. (Mark 7:20-23). And the epistle of James associates words with the power of ship’s rudder, a spark capable of setting a forest ablaze; a “restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:1-12).
For today’s feature, “Athena Thursday,” here is a list of texts from Proverbs to bridle even the wildest horses mouth:
Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
and spreads slander is a fool.
Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
but the prudent hold their tongues.
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of sense. (10:18-21)
With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
Those who have no sense deride their neighbors,
but those who have understanding hold their tongues.
Gossips betray a confidence,
but the trustworthy keep a secret. (11:9-13)
The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. (12:18-19)
The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. (15:2,4)
To human beings belong the plans of the heart,
but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue. (16:1)
A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues. (17:4,20,28)
The words of the mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.
The mouths of fools are their undoing,
and their lips are a snare to their very lives.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.
From the fruit of their mouths people’s stomachs are filled;
with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit. (18:4,6-8,20-21)
A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.
Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
keep themselves from calamity. (21:6,23)
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look. (25:15,23)
Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent lips with an evil heart.
Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts. (26:23-25)
Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
rather than one who has a flattering tongue. (28:23)
Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. (30:5-6)
