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

¹⁷ For we are not, as ^[a]so many, ^(A)peddling^[b] the word of God; but as ^(B)of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

The Untamable Tongue

3 My brethren, ^(A)let not many of you become teachers, ^(B)knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ² For ^(C)we all stumble in many things. ^(D)If anyone does not stumble in word, ^(E)he is a ^[a]perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

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.

The Elders’ Task

¹⁰ For there are many insubordinate, both idle ^(A)talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, ^(B)for the sake of dishonest gain.

¹⁶ They profess to ^(A)know God, but ^(B)in works they deny Him, being ^[a]abominable, disobedient, ^(C)and disqualified for every good work.

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.”