8. And if thou hearest lascivious, filthy words against thy will, and much more if willingly, it is two to one but they leave some thoughts in thy mind which may gender into further sin. 9. It is dangerous to thy passions and affections, lest they catch fire before thou art aware. 10. It is dangerous to thine understanding, lest it be perverted and seduced, and to thy will, lest it be turned after evil. 11. It is dangerous to the speaker, lest thy voluntary hearing encourage him in his sin. 12. He that willingly drinks in tales and calumnies, will, from the delight he hath in evil hearing, slide insensibly into the humour of evil speaking. 13. Be not unacquainted with the particular dangers and weaknesses of thine own heart, that when thou knowest where the wall is weakest, thou mayest there make the best defence. BE DEAF TO WHAT ESPECIALLY ALLURES THEE 14. That wanton word will set a wanton heart on fire, which a sober mind doth hear with pity, as a bedlam kind of speech. 15. A peevish, passionate heart is presently disturbed and kindled with those words which are scarce observed by a well-composed soul. 16. If nobody took calumny in and gave it lodging, it would starve and die of itself. 17. When malice pours it out, if our ears be shut against it, and there be no vessel to receive it, it would fall like water upon the ground, and could not more be gathered up. DELIGHT IN LISTENING 18. But there is that same busy humour that men have, a kind of delight and contentment to hear evil of others, to hear others slighted and disesteemed, that they readily drink in, not without some pleasure, whatsoever is spoken of this kind. TO EVIL 19. The most ears are perverse and distempered in their taste, as some kinds of palates are; they find sweetness in sour calumny. 20. Beware of such as delight in vanity and lying, and defaming of others, and withdraw thyself from them. 21. Take not the honesty of the person as a sufficient cause to hear or believe a bad report of others. 22. Suspect evil-speakers, and be not over-credulous of them. Charity thinketh not evil, nor easily and hastily believeth it. 23. It is no wrong to the best that thou believest him not when he backbiteth without good evidence. 24. Rebuke back biters, and encourage them not by hearkening to their tales. 25. The north wind driveth away rain; so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. KEEP THY LIPS FROM SPEAKING GUILE 1. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. THE TONGUE AND THE WHOLE MAN 2. They who give their tongues the liberty of scurrilous jesting and impure speeches, cannot but have filthy hearts. 3. There is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre. 4. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 5. Behold we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 6. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 7. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 8. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature. 9. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 10. Let not thy tongue be as a thorny bush, pricking and hurting those who are about thee, nor altogether a barren tree, yielding nothing; but a fruitful tree, a tree of life to thy neighbour, as Solomon calls the tongue of the righteous. 11. How knowest thou whether the thing thou reportest is true? Is it only because a credible person But how did that person know it KNOW BEFORE SPEAKING spake it? to be true? as well as thou? And be credible that is not? Might he not take it upon trust might he not take a person to 12. And how commonly doth interest or passion make that person incredible in one thing who is credible in others, where he hath no such temptation. 13. If thou hast not sufficient evidence to prove it, thou art guilty of lying and slandering. 14. Be not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy tongue for a foul shame is upon the double tongue. SLANDER 15. Slanderers whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words. 16. Gossipers bend their tongues like their bow for lies. 17. And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies. 18. Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. 19. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. 20. If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; if not, lay thy hand upon thy mouth. 21. He that can rule his tongue shall live without strife; and he that hateth babbling shall have less evil. WISDOM FOR THE 22. Rehearse not unto another that which is told unto thee, and thou shalt fare never the worse. 23. Whether it be to a friend or foe, talk not of other men's lives; and if thou canst without offence, reveal them not. 24. If thou hast heard a word, let it die with thee; and be bold, it will not burst thee. 25. A fool travaileth with a word, as a woman in labour of a child. 26. The lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 27. Honour and shame is in talk: and the tongue of man is his fall. THE MISCHIEF OF EVIL SPEAKING 28. Who shall set a watch before my mouth, and a seal of wisdom upon my lips, that I fall not suddenly by them, and that my tongue destroy me not? 29. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. 30. Curse the whisperer and double-tongued, for such have destroyed many that were at peace. 31. A backbiting tongue hath disquieted many, and driven them from nation to nation: strong cities hath it |