Verse 3

He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 21:23 : 23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
  • Jas 3:2-9 : 2 For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. 4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. 5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. 10 Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
  • Prov 18:7 : 7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
  • Prov 18:21 : 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
  • Prov 12:13 : 13 An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, but the righteous shall come out of trouble.
  • Matt 12:36-37 : 36 I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
  • Jas 1:26 : 26 If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.
  • Prov 20:19 : 19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don't keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
  • Ps 39:1 : 1 I said, "I will watch my ways, so that I don't sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me."
  • Prov 10:19 : 19 In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.