29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(A) but only what is helpful for building others up(B) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

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Let your conversation be always full of grace,(A) seasoned with salt,(B) so that you may know how to answer everyone.(C)

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11 Therefore encourage one another(A) and build each other up,(B) just as in fact you are doing.

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12 Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,(A)
    but fools are consumed by their own lips.(B)

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But now you must also rid yourselves(A) of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander,(B) and filthy language from your lips.(C) Do not lie to each other,(D) since you have taken off your old self(E) with its practices

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The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(A)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

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11 Like apples[a] of gold in settings of silver(A)
    is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
    is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots

34 You brood of vipers,(A) how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks(B) what the heart is full of. 35 A 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. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”(C)

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30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,(A)
    and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;(B)
    their feet do not slip.(C)

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We all stumble(A) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(B) is perfect,(C) able to keep their whole body in check.(D)

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(E) Or 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. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(F) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire,(G) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(H) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(I)

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(J)

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The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(B)

The eyes(C) of the Lord are everywhere,(D)
    keeping watch on the wicked and the good.(E)

The soothing tongue(F) is a tree of life,(G)
    but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.(H)

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16 Let the message of Christ(A) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom(B) through psalms,(C) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.(D) 17 And whatever you do,(E) whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks(F) to God the Father through him.

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But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,(A) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,(B) because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(C) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(D)

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13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,(A)
    and so the innocent escape trouble.(B)

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16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,(A) that they may see your good deeds(B) and glorify(C) your Father in heaven.

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21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive

31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,(A)
    but a perverse tongue(B) will be silenced.

32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,(C)
    but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.(D)

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The Sovereign Lord(A) has given me a well-instructed tongue,(B)
    to know the word that sustains the weary.(C)
He wakens me morning by morning,(D)
    wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.(E)

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You who practice deceit,(A)
    your tongue plots destruction;(B)
    it is like a sharpened razor.(C)

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23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply(A)
    and how good is a timely word!(B)

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12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds(A) and glorify God(B) on the day he visits us.

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22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.(A)

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17 Since my youth, God, you have taught(A) me,
    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.(B)
18 Even when I am old and gray,(C)
    do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power(D) to the next generation,
    your mighty acts to all who are to come.(E)

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Not a word from their mouth can be trusted;
    their heart is filled with malice.
Their throat is an open grave;(A)
    with their tongues they tell lies.(B)

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These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.(A) Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.(B) Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.(C) Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.(D)

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