Habit: Words Become Actions

Taming the Tongue

²We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

³When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

The tongue has the power of life and death…

³³“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

⁹The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

²⁶I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

²³Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

¹¹I have hidden your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

²⁰Walk with the wise and become wise;

associate with fools and get in trouble.

³³Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”^[1]