²¹ The tongue has the power of life and death,^(A)
    and those who love it will eat its fruit.^(B)

³ “They make ready their tongue
    like a bow, to shoot lies;^(A)
it is not by truth
    that they triumph^[a] in the land.
They go from one sin to another;
    they do not acknowledge^(B) me,”
declares the Lord.
⁴ “Beware of your friends;^(C)
    do not trust anyone in your clan.^(D)
For every one of them is a deceiver,^[b](E)
    and every friend a slanderer.^(F)
5 Friend deceives friend,^(G)
    and no one speaks the truth.^(H)
They have taught their tongues to lie;^(I)
    they weary themselves with sinning.
⁶ You^[c] live in the midst of deception;^(J)
    in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,”
declares the Lord.

“See, I will refine^(K) and test^(L) them,
    for what else can I do
    because of the sin of my people?
⁸ Their tongue^(M) is a deadly arrow;
    it speaks deceitfully.
With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors,^(N)
    but in their hearts they set traps^(O) for them.^(P)

¹⁸ The words of the reckless pierce like swords,^(A)
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.^(B)