37 (A)But let [a]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:37 Lit. your word be yes yes

37 But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’ [a firm yes or no]; anything more than that comes from the evil one.(A)

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37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;(A) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:37 Or from evil

28 (A)Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

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28 
Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.

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28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.(A)

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11 A fool vents all his (A)feelings,[a]
But a wise man holds them back.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:11 Lit. spirit

11 
A [shortsighted] fool always loses his temper and displays his anger,
But a wise man [uses self-control and] holds it back.

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11 Fools give full vent to their rage,(A)
    but the wise bring calm in the end.(B)

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21 (A)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

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21 
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.(A)

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

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36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may 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.”

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36 But I tell you, on the day of judgment people will have to give an accounting for every careless or useless word they speak. 37 For by your words [reflecting your spiritual condition] you will be justified and acquitted of the guilt of sin; and by your words [rejecting Me] you will be condemned and sentenced.”

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36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”(A)

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26 If anyone [a]among you thinks he is religious, and (A)does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:26 NU omits among you

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious [scrupulously observant of the rituals of his faith], and does not control his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless (futile, barren).

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26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues(A) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

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Qualities Needed in Trials

19 [a]So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, (A)slow to speak, (B)slow to wrath;

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Footnotes

  1. James 1:19 NU Know this or This you know

19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];

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Listening and Doing

19 My dear brothers and sisters,(A) take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak(B) and slow to become angry,

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And (A)the tongue is a fire, a world of [a]iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it (B)defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of [b]nature; and it is set on fire by [c]hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, (C)full of deadly poison.

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:6 unrighteousness
  2. James 3:6 existence
  3. James 3:6 Gr. Gehenna

And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by [a]hell (Gehenna). For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison.

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Footnotes

  1. James 3:6 See note Matt 5:22.

The tongue also is a fire,(A) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(B) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(C)

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(D)

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