"Their tongueis a deadlyarrow;It speaksdeceit;With his mouthone speakspeaceto his neighbor,But inwardlyhe setsan ambushfor him.
Do not dragme awaywith the wickedAnd with those who workiniquity,Who speakpeacewith their neighbors,While evilis in their hearts.
"They bendtheir tongue[like] their bow;Liesand not truthprevailin the land;For they proceedfrom evilto evil,And they do not knowMe," declaresthe LORD.
Whatshall be givento you, and whatmoreshall be doneto you, You deceitfultongue?
My soulis amonglions;I must lieamong those who breatheforthfire,[Even] the sonsof men,whose teethare spearsand arrowsAnd their tonguea sharpsword.
His speechwas smootherthanbutter,But his heartwas war;His wordswere softerthanoil,Yet they were drawnswords.
They speakfalsehoodto oneanother;With flatteringlipsand with a doubleheartthey speak.
So when Abnerreturnedto Hebron,Joabtookhim asideinto the middleof the gateto speakwith him privately,and therehe struckhim in the bellyso that he diedon account of the bloodof Asahelhis brother.
"Everyonedeceiveshis neighborAnd does not speakthe truth,They have taughttheir tongueto speaklies;They wearythemselves committinginiquity.
For wickedmenare foundamong My people,They watchlike fowlerslyingin wait;They seta trap,They catchmen.
So they will make him stumble;Their own tongueis againstthem; Allwho seethem will shakethe head.
For they do not speakpeace,But they devisedeceitfulwordsagainstthose whoare quietin the land.
[Like] a cluband a swordand a sharparrowIs a manwho bearsfalse~witnessagainst his neighbor.
"Let everyonebe on guardagainsthis neighbor,And do not trustanybrother;Becauseeverybrotherdealscraftily,And everyneighborgoesabout as a slanderer.
"For the richmenof [the] city are fullof violence,Her residentsspeaklies,And their tongueis deceitfulin their mouth.
May the LORDcutoffallflatteringlips,The tonguethat speaksgreatthings;
My soul,waitin silencefor Godonly,For my hopeis from Him.
"Shall I not punishthese[people]," declaresthe LORD,"And on a nationsuchas thisShall I not avengeMyself?
