“Edom, do not laugh at your brother Israel in his time of trouble or be happy about the people of Judah when they are destroyed. Do not brag when cruel things are done to them.
You have sent your messengers to insult the Lord. You have said, “With my many chariots I have gone to the tops of the mountains, to the highest mountains of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars and its best pine trees. I have gone to its greatest heights and its best forests.
All your enemies open their mouths to speak against you. They make fun and grind their teeth in anger. They say, “We have swallowed you up. This is the day we were waiting for! We have finally seen it happen.”
Then you will know that I, the Lord, have heard all your insults against the mountains of Israel. You said, “They have been ruined. They have been given to us to eat.”
You were happy when the land of Israel was ruined, but I will do the same thing to you. Mount Seir and all Edom, you will become an empty ruin. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
This is what the Lord God says: I speak in hot anger against the other nations. I speak against the people of Edom, who took my land for themselves with joy and with hate in their hearts. They forced out the people and took their pastureland.’
It is the same with the tongue. It is a small part of the body, but it brags about great things. A big forest fire can be started with only a little flame.
They brag with words that mean nothing. By their evil desires they lead people into the trap of sin—people who are just beginning to escape from others who live in error.
These people complain and blame others, doing the evil things they want to do. They brag about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.