“THE tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.” “The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.”
“It defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” “The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:5, 6, 8.)
Good words mark the Wise.
“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a GOOD CONVERSATION his works with meekness and wisdom.” (James 3:13.)
Unquiet tongues mark Fools.
“A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterward.” “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.” (Prov. 18:6, 7; 19:11, 20.)
Idlers, Tattlers, Babblers.
“They learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.” (1 Tim. 5:13.) “Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.” “Shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” (2 Tim. 2:23, 16.)
A solemn exhortation.
“Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient; but rather giving of thanks.” (Eph. 4:30 to 4 of 5.)
Evidences.
“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Matt. 12:34.) “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2.)
The end of the matter.
“Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matt. 12:36.)