"In the transgression of the LIPS is a snare to an evil man: but the righteous shall come out of trouble."--PROV. xii. 13. "A fool's vexation is PRESENTLY KNOWN: but a prudent man concealeth shame."--PROV. xii. 16. "He that uttereth truth SHOWETH FORTH righteousness, but a false witness deceit."--PROV. xii. 17. "The LIP of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying TONGUE is but for a moment."--PROV. xii. 19. "Lying LIPS are an abomination unto the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight."--PROV. xii. 22. "There is that SPEAKETH rashly like the piercings of a sword: but the TONGUE of the wise is health."--PROV. xii. 18. "A prudent man CONCEALETH knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness."--PROV. xii. 23. "The WORDS of the wicked are a lying in wait for blood: but the MOUTH of the upright shall deliver them."--PROV. xii. 6. "Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop; but a good WORD maketh it glad."--PROV. xii. 25. There is nothing which seems more insubstantial than speech, a mere vibration in the atmosphere which touches the nerves of hearing and then dies away. There is no organ which seems smaller and less considerable than the tongue; a little member which is not even seen, and, physically speaking, soft and weak. But the word which issues out of the lips is the greatest power in human life. That "soft tongue breaketh the bone."[280] Words will change the currents of life: look for instance at a great orator addressing his audience; how miraculous must it seem to a deaf man watching the speaker that the quiet opening of a mouth should be able to produce such powerful effects upon the faces, the movements, the conduct of the listeners! We are coming to consider the importance of this diminutive organ, the ill uses and the good uses to which it may be turned, and the consequent necessity of fitly directly and restraining it. On the use of the tongue depend the issues of a man's own life. It may be regarded as a tree which bears fruits of different kinds, and such fruits as his tongue bears a man must eat. If his words have been good, then he shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.[281] "A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth, with the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied."[282] The fruits which grow on this tongue-tree are death and life--the tongue produces them--and he that loves the tree shall according to his love eat the one fruit or the other; if he loves death-bearing speech he shall eat death; if he loves life-bearing speech he shall eat life.[283] So deadly may be the fruit of the tongue that the mouth of the fool is regarded as a present destruction.[284] So wholesome may be the fruit of the tongue that the tongue of the wise may be actually denominated health.[285]