I said,"I will guardmy waysThat I may not sinwith my tongue;I will guardmy mouthas with a muzzleWhilethe wickedare in my presence."
sothat the LORDmay carryout His promisewhichHe spokeconcerningme, saying,Ifyour sonsare carefulof their way,to walkbeforeMe in truthwith alltheir heartand with alltheir soul,you shall not lacka manon the throneof Israel.'
But Jehuwas not carefulto walkin the lawof the LORD,the Godof Israel,with allhis heart;he did not departfrom the sinsof Jeroboam,whichhe made Israelsin.
With them [were] Hemanand Jeduthun,and the restwho were chosen,whowere designatedby name,to givethanksto the LORD,becauseHis lovingkindnessis everlasting.
But he saidto her, "You speakas oneof the foolishwomenspeaks.Shall we indeedacceptgoodfrom Godand not acceptadversity?"In allthisJobdid not sinwith his lips.
Howcan a youngmankeephis waypure?By keeping[it] according to Your word.
Whohave said,"With our tonguewe will prevail;Our lipsare our own; whois lordover us?"
Seta guard,O LORD,over my mouth;Keepwatchoverthe doorof my lips.
Keepyour tonguefrom evilAnd your lipsfrom speakingdeceit.
My soul[waits] in silencefor Godonly;From Him is my salvation.
My voice[rises] to God,and I will cryaloud;My voice[rises] to God,and He will hearme.
Deathand lifeare in the powerof the tongue,And those who loveit will eatits fruit.
He who guardshis mouthand his tongue,Guardshis soulfrom troubles.
Thereforeat sucha timethe prudentperson keepssilent,for it is an eviltime.
Conduct yourselveswith wisdomtowardoutsiders,making the mostof the opportunity.
For thisreasonwe mustpaymuch closerattentionto what we have heard,sothat we do not drift away[from it].
Ifanyonethinkshimself to be religious,and yet does not bridlehis tonguebut deceiveshis [own] heart,this man'sreligionis worthless.
