⁶ And ^(A)the tongue is a fire, a world of ^[a]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it ^(B)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of ^[b]nature; and it is set on fire by ^[c]hell.

¹⁵ There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that ^(A)defile a man.

^11 (A)Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

¹² Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

¹³ But He answered and said, ^(B)“Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴ Let them alone. ^(C)They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

^15 (D)Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”

¹⁶ So Jesus said, ^(E)“Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not yet understand that ^(F)whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? ¹⁸ But ^(G)those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. ^19 (H)For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. ²⁰ These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

²⁰ And He said, ^(A)“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. ^21 (B)For from within, out of the heart of men, ^(C)proceed evil thoughts, ^(D)adulteries, ^(E)fornications, murders, ²² thefts, ^(F)covetousness, wickedness, ^(G)deceit, ^(H)lewdness, an evil eye, ^(I)blasphemy, ^(J)pride, foolishness.

^8 (A)But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,

²⁴ “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and ^(A)cool my tongue; for I ^(B)am tormented in this flame.’

A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath