Taming the Tongue (Psalm 64:1–10)
1 UST My fellow believers, most of you should not desire to become teachers{ of God’ s word}. As you know, God will judge us teachers more severely{ than he will judge other people}. BSB BSB: Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2 UST { I will tell you why most of you should not become teachers.} All of us often do things that are wrong. But if anyone is able to avoid saying things that are wrong, he has become the person God intends him to be. He will be able to control all of his actions as well. BSB BSB: We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
3 UST To illustrate, we can put a small metal bar into the mouth of a horse and use it to make the horse go where we want it to go. When we do that, we can direct the horse’ s large body{ just by means of that small device}. BSB BSB: When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal.
4 UST Think about ships too. A ship may be very large and the winds that propel it forward may be very strong. Even so, by using a tiny rudder, the pilot can direct the ship wherever he wants it to go. BSB BSB: Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.
5 UST Similarly, although our tongues are very small, we use them to brag that we have done great things. Note also that a fire that starts as a small flame can burn up many trees. BSB BSB: In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.
6 UST Just as a fire burns a forest, when we say bad things, we hurt many people.{ What we say reveals that} there is much evil within us. When we say bad things, this contaminates all that we think and do. It can ruin our whole life. It is Satan himself who influences us to speak what is evil. BSB BSB: The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 UST To give another example, people have been able to tame a wide variety of wild animals, birds, reptiles, and animals that live in the water. BSB BSB: All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
8 UST But no one can control the things he says. The things people say are like a dangerous creature that never stops killing people with its venom. BSB BSB: but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 UST We use speech to praise{ God, who is} our Lord and Father. But we also use speech to say that we want bad things to happen to people.{ That is very wrong, because} God made people like himself. BSB BSB: With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
10 UST Someone may use his speech to praise God. But then he will use that same speech to wish that bad things would happen to people. My fellow believers, this should not happen! BSB BSB: Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!
11 UST Surely good- tasting water and bad- tasting water do not come from the same source! BSB BSB: Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12 UST My fellow believers, a fig tree cannot produce olives. And a grapevine cannot produce figs. Nor can a salty source produce good water.{ Similarly, we should speak only what is good, and we should not speak what is evil.} BSB BSB: My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
The Wisdom from Above 13 UST If any of you are very understanding, you will demonstrate that by living your life properly. Being wise leads us to act gently toward others. BSB BSB: Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
14 UST But if inwardly you grudgingly resent other people and you think you are more important than they are, you should not claim to be wise. That would be saying that what is false is actually true. BSB BSB: But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
15 UST People who are envious and selfish are not wise as God wants them to be. Instead, they are thinking and acting like people who do not respect God. They are following their own evil desires. They are doing what demons would do. BSB BSB: Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
16 UST We can tell that people who are resentful and selfish are not wise, because they do not control themselves. They take part in many different sinful activities. BSB BSB: For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
17 UST But the person whom God has taught to be wise is, first of all, morally pure. Such a person also makes peace with others. He is kind to them and gets along with them well. He is generous to people who do not deserve it, and he does practical things to help others. He does not favor one person over another, and he does not pretend to be something that he is not. BSB BSB: But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
18 UST When people work quietly to help others get along, they can help those others to have good relationships. BSB BSB: Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.