^21 (A)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

³ “And like their bow ^(A)they have bent their tongues for lies.
They are not valiant for the truth on the earth.
For they proceed from ^(B)evil to evil,
And they ^(C)do not know Me,” says the Lord.
⁴ “Everyone^(D) take heed to his ^[a]neighbor,
And do not trust any brother;
For every brother will utterly supplant,
And every neighbor will ^(E)walk with slanderers.
⁵ Everyone will ^(F)deceive his neighbor,
And will not speak the truth;
They have taught their tongue to speak lies;
They weary themselves to commit iniquity.
⁶ Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit;
Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” says the Lord.

“Behold, ^(G)I will refine them and ^[b]try them;
^(H)For how shall I deal with the daughter of My people?
⁸ Their tongue is an arrow shot out;
It speaks ^(I)deceit;
One speaks ^(J)peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth,
But ^[c]in his heart he ^[d]lies in wait.

¹⁰ They have closed up their ^(A)fat hearts;
With their mouths they ^(B)speak proudly.

³ May the Lord ^[b]cut off all flattering lips,
And the tongue that speaks ^[c]proud things,
⁴ Who have said,
“With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own;
Who is lord over us?”