18 four kinds of things rise up: good and evil, life and death. That which rules over them continually is the tongue. (WEB) 19 There is one who is clever and the instructor of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul. (WEB) 20 There is one who is subtle in words, and is hated. He will be destitute of all food. (WEB)
Sirach 37:18–20
Semantically similar passages
Sirach 20:4–6
4 As is the lust of a eunuch to deflower a virgin, so is he who executes judgments with violence. (WEB) 5 There is one who keeps silent and is found wise; and there is one who is hated for his much talk. (WEB) 6 There is one who keeps silent, for he has no answer to make; And th… (WEB)
James 3:7–9
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who…
Proverbs 17:19–21
19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction. 20 The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble. 21 A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
Sirach 21:11–13
11 He who keeps the law becomes master of its intent. The fulfilment of the fear of the Lord is wisdom. (WEB) 12 He who is not clever will not be instructed. There is a cleverness which makes bitterness abound. (WEB) 13 The knowledge of a wise man will be made to abound as a flood,… (WEB)
Proverbs 12:17–19
17 He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit. 18 Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
Proverbs 10:20–22
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment. 22 The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.
Ecclesiastes 10:11–13
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Proverbs 10:30–32
30 The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not inhabit the land. 31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
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