For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.

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Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.(A)

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12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

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12 For the word of God(A) is alive(B) and active.(C) Sharper than any double-edged sword,(D) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(E) 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.(F) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

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14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

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14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing(A) in your sight,
    Lord, my Rock(B) and my Redeemer.(C)

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35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

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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.”(A)

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19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.

21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

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19 You use your mouth for evil
    and harness your tongue to deceit.(A)
20 You sit and testify against your brother(B)
    and slander your own mother’s son.
21 When you did these things and I kept silent,(C)
    you thought I was exactly[a] like you.
But I now arraign(D) you
    and set my accusations(E) before you.

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Footnotes

  1. Psalm 50:21 Or thought the ‘I am’ was

Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

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You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’(A)
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.(B)

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26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

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26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues(A) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

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13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?

15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

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Israel Speaks Arrogantly Against God

13 “You have spoken arrogantly(A) against me,” says the Lord.

“Yet you ask,(B) ‘What have we said against you?’

14 “You have said, ‘It is futile(C) to serve(D) God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements(E) and going about like mourners(F) before the Lord Almighty? 15 But now we call the arrogant(G) blessed. Certainly evildoers(H) prosper,(I) and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”

The Faithful Remnant

16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard.(J) A scroll(K) of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared(L) the Lord and honored his name.

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Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

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Therefore I despise myself(A)
    and repent(B) in dust and ashes.”(C)

Epilogue

After the Lord had said these things to Job(D), he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends,(E) because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.(F) So now take seven bulls and seven rams(G) and go to my servant Job(H) and sacrifice a burnt offering(I) for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer(J) and not deal with you according to your folly.(K) You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.”(L)

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For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

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.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

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; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

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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)

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.(K) 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

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23 Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord.

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23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery(A) with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know(B) it and am a witness(C) to it,” declares the Lord.

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How long wilt thou speak these things? and how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind?

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“How long will you say such things?(A)
    Your words are a blustering wind.(B)

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Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

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“Who is this that obscures my plans(A)
    with words without knowledge?(B)

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