harsh words

¹A mild response shatters anger. But a harsh word stirs up fury.

²⁹Let no evil words proceed from your mouth, but only what is good, toward the edification of faith, so as to bestow grace upon those who listen.

¹¹A foolish one offers everything on his mind. A wise one reserves and defers until later.

¹⁸He who makes promises is also jabbed, as if with a sword, in conscience. But the tongue of the wise is reasonable.

¹⁹You know this, my most beloved brothers. So let every man be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to anger. ²⁰For the anger of man does not accomplish the justice of God.

¹⁸A short-tempered man provokes conflicts. Whoever is patient tempers those who are stirred up.

³¹Let all bitterness and anger and indignation and outcry and blasphemy be taken away from you, along with all malice.

²⁰For the anger of man does not accomplish the justice of God.

⁸But now you must set aside all these things: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, and indecent speech from your mouth.

⁸Cease from wrath and leave behind rage. Do not choose to imitate the malicious.

³²And be kind and merciful to one another, forgiving one another, just as God has forgiven you in Christ.

²⁶“Be angry, but do not be willing to sin.” Do not let the sun set over your anger. ²⁷Provide no place for the devil.

¹⁹You know this, my most beloved brothers. So let every man be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to anger.

²⁶But if anyone considers himself to be religious, but he does not restrain his tongue, but instead seduces his own heart: such a one’s religion is vanity.

²¹You have heard that it was said to the ancients: ‘You shall not murder; whoever will have murdered shall be liable to judgment.’ ²²But I say to you, that anyone who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment. But whoever will have called his brother, ‘Idiot,’ shall be liable to the council. Then, whoever will have called him, ‘Worthless,’ shall be liable to the fires of Hell.

⁵So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest. ⁶And so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from Hell. ⁷For the nature of all beasts and birds and serpents and others is ruled over, and has been ruled over, by human nature. ⁸But no man is able to rule over the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹By it we bless God the Father, and by it we speak evil of men, who have been made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so!

⁴³You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and you shall have hatred for your enemy.’ ⁴⁴But I say to you: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who persecute and slander you. ⁴⁵In this way, you shall be sons of your Father, who is in heaven. He causes his sun to rise upon the good and the bad, and he causes it to rain upon the just and the unjust. ⁴⁶For if you love those who love you, what reward will you have? Do not even tax collectors behave this way? ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brothers, what more have you done? Do not even the pagans behave this way? ⁴⁸Therefore, be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.”