<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="pr+18:15-21">Proverbs 18:15-21</span></span></p><p>We are seeing that the first step the psalmist took to save himself from falling was stopping himself from saying what was on the tip of his tongue. In other words, he took himself in hand. This is an extremely important issue. What a lot of heartache would be saved if Christians would take heed to this and learn to put a bridle on their tongues. Expressions which convey the idea that the Lord acts unjustly or unkindly, especially if they fall from the lips of men and women who have a long experience in the Christian life, are as dangerous as sparks in a timber factory. Despite his doubts, the psalmist recognised the importance of self-discipline, and that proved to be a saving virtue. People sometimes claim: "It is impossible for me to control what I say. It slips out before I realise what I've said." This is nonsense, of course, for what we say is the result of what we choose to say. Sometimes we may feel as though we have no control over what we say, but that is all it is - a feeling. Dr Lawrence Crabb, a Christian psychologist, tells us: "The loss of felt choice does not mean the loss of real choice." When you give a person "a piece of your mind", as we say, there is always a moment, albeit a split second, when you can choose to speak out or stay quiet. We cannot hide behind the excuse that our tongue is not under our control. What we do is what we choose to do. The psalmist, though beset by many doubts and difficulties, chose to control his tongue - and so can you. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Father, help me see that the things I do and say are not the result of compulsion but of choice. I am free to obey or free to disobey. Help me to use my freedom in the right way. In Jesus' Name I ask it. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="jas+3:1-18">James 3:1-18</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="jas+1:5">James 1:5</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="lu+21:15">Luke 21:15</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What does James teach about the tongue?</li><li>What are we to ask God for?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"The tongue has the power of life and death " (v. 21) 

<p>Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.<br><br>Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. § Death and life are in the power of the tongue. § The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. § Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.<br><br>For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. § I believed, therefore I spoke.<br><br>Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. § With the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.</p>

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num poetry-line">21 </sup><poetry>The tongue has the power of life and death,  <br/><indent>and those who love it will eat its fruit.  </indent><span class="pb"></span><poetry></poetry> </span></p>

The tongue has the power of life and death,<cr>1</cr> <br/><indent>and those who love it will eat its fruit.<cr>2</cr> </indent><pb/><poetry>

Proverbs 18:21

 21 The tongue has the power of life and death,   and those who love it will eat its fruit.   

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 

<p><span class="bible-text "><poetry>The tongue has the power of life and death,  <br/><indent>and those who love it will eat its fruit.  </indent><span class="pb"></span><poetry></poetry> </span></p>

 The tongue has the power of life and death,   and those who love it will eat its fruit.   

Bible Verse of the Day

March 25, 2026

Proverbs 18:21 NIV

Verse by Verse Bible Study

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