Ten Commandments Of The Tongue
1. Thou shalt not gossip
Proverbs 18:8
Before any evil story whispered in the ear is passed on, it should be treated as the housewife treats
apples for a pie... first peeled, then quartered and cored, then what remains liberally sugared.
2. Thou shalt not use a multitude of empty words
Proverbs 10:19
Your tongue reveals the nature of your thinking and your character. The divine Master Himself admonishes
the children of men to "let your yea be yea, and nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
3. Thou shalt not boast
Proverbs 27:2
A small man makes long, loud boasting in order to center the spotlight of attention on himself. The
great man works quietly, silently polishing the beacon that it may guide the ship safely into the desired haven.
4. Thou shalt not flatter
Proverbs 26:28
Someone has said that "flattery is like soft soap. It is 90% lye" - and you can count on the ratio being
just about right. The words of the man or woman who would flatter you, according to the psalmist who had a great deal of experience with
that sort of thing, are "softer than oil, yet withdrawn swords."
5. Thou shalt not grumble
Philippians 2:14
The prescription for this malady is to saturate your life with loving kindness. Let it enter every pore
and the process will be absolutely foolproof against the gnawing frets and worries that are worse than termites, to eat the
soul out of you.
6. Thou shalt not backbite or slander
Psalm 64:3
The tongue that backbites or slanders is the weapon that empties churches, pours streams of bickering
humans into divorce courts, fills our jails with wretched humanity and lashes men and women to Satan's kingdom.
7. Thou shalt not mock or make fun
Job 11:3
Let us learn sympathy and give our fellows a helping hand instead of mockery, no matter how peculiar
or odd they may be. Remember angels visit the earth in all kinds of guises.
8. Thou shalt not lie
Exodus 20:16
The first recorded lie was told in the garden of Eden. Since then, the practice has spread like a plague
throughout the whole earth. Everyone hates a lying tongue.
9. Thou shalt not swear
Exodus 20:7
Profanity is the official language of the devil's kingdom. Have no part in it for it will disqualify
you for heaven.
10. Thou shalt not argue in anger
Hosea 7:16
Whatever the provocation is, remember that "silence is golden" and that "a soft answer turns away wrath; but grievous
words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:11
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