Proverbs 18:21
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
BSB
ASV
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
KJV
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
HOMILY 5:4 (460)
A wound arising from words is unbearable.… Truly, dearly beloved, if you look deeply, and diligently investigate the swelling tumor of an exasperated heart, you will discover that the wounds produced by words cause deaths.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,.... Of witnesses, according to the testimony they bear; of judges, according to the sentence they pass; of teachers, according to the doctrine they preach; of all men, who, by their well or ill speaking, bring death or life to themselves and others.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue - This may apply to all men. Many have lost their lives by their tongue, and some have saved their lives by it: but it applies most forcibly to public pleaders; on many of their tongues hangs life or death.
Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.
The walk8
Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.
Through
Ephesians 4:29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
leads to
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Through
Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
leads to
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and…
Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
