When my husband took a new job, I bought him a key ring. On the key ring were these words:
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalms 19:14
Someone gave it back to me after he died. To this day, I don’t know who gave it to me. It was all a blur on that day and the following months. I wanted him to remember he would be with various people of the world, and their speech was not always be acceptable. After his death, I was told he visited with those whose speech was not obscene. I never regretted purchasing that key ring, for each time he looked at it, he was reminded of this inspired verse.
Oh how easy the words are to slip in a moment of anger, and the words may harm a heart forever, for you cannot unsay those hurtful words. Words can separate friends, cause divorce, job loss, and estrangement from family, brethren, and acquaintances.
“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21
“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 21:23
“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” Proverbs 12:18
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29
“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.” James 1:26
“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.” I Peter 3:10
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36
“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.”
Eileen Light