Texts in Conversation
Proverbs 18 says life and death are in the power of the tongue. Sirach expands on this observation, describing how the tongue is the ruler of the mind’s four activities of good, evil, life, and death.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Proverbs 18:21
Hebrew Bible
19 A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city,and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel. 20 From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; with the product of his lips he will be satisfied. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit. 22 The one who has found a wife has found what goodness is and obtained a delightful gift from the Lord. 23 A poor person makes supplications, but a rich man answers harshly.
Sirach 37:18
Ben Sira, Ecclesiasticus
Deuterocanon
16 Discussion is the beginning of every work, and counsel precedes every undertaking. 17 The mind is the root of all conduct; 18 it sprouts four branches, good and evil, life and death; and it is the tongue that continually rules them. 19 Some people may be clever enough to teach many, and yet be useless to themselves. 20 A skillful speaker may be hated; he will be destitute of all food,
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Notes and References
... The mind’s "four branches," which are given in an a:b::b’:a’ chiastic order: good:evil::death:life; "their absolute mistress" is the tongue (37:18). The tongue of the wise brings forth good, which leads to life; the tongue of the fool, evil, which leads to death. Compare 27:6; 33:14; and Proverbs 18:21. For the Deuteronomic connection between doing good and achieving a long life, and between doing evil and dying prematurely, compare Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Sirach 15:15-17. ...
Skehan, Patrick W.; Di Lella, Alexander A.
The Wisdom of Ben Sira: A New Translation with Notes, Introduction and Commentary
(p. 436) Doubleday, 1987
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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