Ifanyonethinkshimself to be religious,and yet does not bridlehis tonguebut deceiveshis [own] heart,this man'sreligionis worthless.
Let nounwholesomewordproceedfrom your mouth,but onlysuch[a word] as is goodfor edificationaccording to the need[of the moment], sothat it will givegraceto thosewho hear.
Seta guard,O LORD,over my mouth;Keepwatchoverthe doorof my lips.
For, "THE ONEWHO DESIRESLIFE,TO LOVEAND SEEGOODDAYS,MUST KEEPHIS TONGUEFROM EVILAND HIS LIPSFROM SPEAKINGDECEIT.
and [there must be no] filthinessand silly talk,orcoarse jesting,whichare not fitting,but rathergiving of thanks.
Betteris a poorman who walksin his integrityThanhe whois perversein speechand is a fool.
Keepyour tonguefrom evilAnd your lipsfrom speakingdeceit.
The mouthof the righteousflowswith wisdom,But the pervertedtonguewill be cutout.
When there are manywords,transgressionis unavoidable,But he who restrainshis lipsis wise.
Let your speechalwaysbe with grace,[as though] seasonedwith salt,so that you will knowhowyou shouldrespondto eachperson.
But proveyourselves doersof the word,and not merelyhearerswho deludethemselves.
[This] you know,my belovedbrethren.But everyonemust be quickto hear,slowto speak[and] slowto anger;
Thereis a way[which seems] rightto a man,But its endis the wayof death.
"Sotake carehowyou listen;for whoeverhas,to him [more] shall be given;and whoeverdoes not have,evenwhathe thinkshe hasshall be taken awayfrom him."
For ifanyonethinkshe is somethingwhen he is nothing,he deceiveshimself.
"Bewarethat your heartsare not deceived,and that you do not turnawayand serveothergodsand worshipthem.
But from thosewho were of highreputation(whatthey were makesnodifferenceto me; Godshowsnopartiality)--well,thosewho were of reputationcontributednothingto me.
BUT IN VAINDO THEY WORSHIPME, TEACHINGAS DOCTRINESTHE PRECEPTSOF MEN.'
He feedson ashes;a deceivedhearthas turnedhim aside.And he cannotdeliverhimself,norsay,"Is there not a liein my righthand?"
Alldaylong he is craving,While the righteousgivesand does not holdback.
by whichalsoyou are saved,ifyou hold fastthe wordwhichI preachedto you, unlessyou believedin vain.
BUT IN VAINDO THEY WORSHIPME, TEACHINGAS DOCTRINESTHE PRECEPTSOF MEN.'"
"You have said,It is vainto serveGod;and whatprofitis it that we have keptHis charge,and that we have walkedin mourningbeforethe LORDof hosts?
"Bringyour worthlessofferingsnolonger,Incenseis an abominationto Me. Newmoonand sabbath,the callingof assemblies--I cannotendureiniquityand the solemnassembly.
Moreoverwe are evenfound[to be] false witnessesof God,becausewe testifiedagainstGodthat He raisedChrist,whomHe did not raise,ifin factthe deadare not raised.
A divinedecisionis in the lipsof the king;His mouthshould not errin judgment.
The tongueof the wisemakesknowledgeacceptable,But the mouthof foolsspoutsfolly.
Do not be as the horseor as the mulewhich havenounderstanding,Whose trappingsinclude bitand bridleto holdthem in check,[Otherwise] they will not comenearto you.
But are you willingto recognize,you foolishfellow,that faithwithoutworksis useless?
Did you sufferso many thingsin vain--ifindeedit was in vain?
and recognizingthe gracethat had been givento me, Jamesand Cephasand John,who were reputedto be pillars,gaveto me and Barnabasthe right handof fellowship,sothat we [might] [go] to the Gentilesand they to the circumcised.
Let no mandeceivehimself.Ifany manamongyou thinksthat he is wisein thisage,he must becomefoolish,sothat he may becomewise.
That you should turnyour spiritagainstGodAnd allow [such] wordsto goout of your mouth?
"BecauseHe has loosedHis bowstringand afflictedme, They have castoffthe bridlebeforeme.
