“A person once said, indicating how easily one falls because of the tongue, "Many fall by the sword, but not as many as by the tongue." And revealing the seriousness of such a fall, the same person again said, "A slip on the pavement is preferable to a fall caused by the tongue." And not only does he speak of falls, bu…”
John Chrysostom, 5th c. — BAPTISMAL INSTRUCTIONS 1:17
Original
18To slip upon a pavement is better than to slip with the tongue: so the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.
Modern
Preparing…
Teens
Preparing…
Kids
Preparing…
In context
16The fool saith, I have no friends, I have no thank for all my good deeds, and they that eat my bread speak evil of me.
17How oft, and of how many shall he be laughed to scorn! for he knoweth not aright what it is to have; and it is all one unto him as if he had it not.
— Sirach 20:18 —
19An unseasonable tale will always be in the mouth of the unwise.
20A wise sentence shall be rejected when it cometh out of a fool’s mouth; for he will not speak it in due season.