Keep your tongue from speaking evil.

 

63. Keep thy tongue from evil: Not only are we not to do that which is evil in the sight of The Lord, but we are not even supposed to talk about evil, deceitful, wicked things, that defile our tongues and cast a shadow of numbness over our hearts.  Judaism: Psalms 34:13 “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” Job 15:5 “For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.” Job 27:4 “My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.”  Christianity: 1 Peter 3:10 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:” James 3:5 “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!“ 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

 BABI RELIGION: “Ye have been forbidden in the Bayan to enter into idle disputation and controversy, that perchance on the Day of Resurrection ye may not engage in argumentation, and dispute with Him Whom God shall make manifest.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 133)

 ISLAM: Letter 53. “Take care and keep control over your temper, your anger and your desire to be arrogant and vain. Take care of your hands when you are out to deliver punishment and of the sharpness of your tongue when you are saying harsh things.”

(Islam, Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh)

Islam: “The Prophet said, ‘A Muslim is the one who avoids harming Muslims with his tongue and hands.”’

(Hadith, Bukhari Vol 1, Book 2, # 9)

Islam: 23. “Those who slander…., indiscreet but believing, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter: for them is a grievous Penalty” 24. “On the Day when their tongues, their hands, and their feet will bear witness against them as to their actions.” 25. “On that Day Allah (God) will pay them back (all) their just dues.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah  24)

 ZOROASTRIANISM: “O Ahura (God), one who listens to and thinks over rectitude who is wise and has entered into (i.e. realized) his self who has control over his tongue and is efficient in truthful expressions of words, O Mazda through your bright light place that votary in welfare.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 171)

 Zoroastrianism: 4. “They who make the increase of violence and cruelty with their tongues, the foes of cattle- nurture among its friends; whose ill deeds prevail, not their good deeds: these (shall be) in the house of the Daevas, (the place for) the Self of the Liar.” 13. “Thus the Self of the Liar destroys for himself the assurance of the right Way; whose soul shall tremble at the Revelation on the Bridge of the Separator, having turned aside with deeds and tongue from the Path of Right.”

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasnas 49 and 51)

 HINDUISM: (Tongue) “Sweep aside thy crafty reasoning, Truth is still our ancient way, Truth sustains the earth and nations and a monarch’s righteous sway, Mighty Gods and holy sages find in Truth their haven shore, Scorning death and dark destruction, Truth survives for evermore!”

(Hindu, Ramayana (R. Dutt, abridged tr))

 Hinduism: 4. “Tread with thy foot and trample out the firebrand of the wicked one, The double-tongued, whoever he be.”

(Hindu, Vedas, Rig Veda – Book 1)

 BUDDHISM: 17. “Be aware of the tongue’s anger and control your tongue. Let go of the tongue’s wrongs and practice virtue with your tongue. Be aware of the mind’s anger and control your mind. Let go of the mind’s wrongs and practice virtue with your mind. The wise who control their body, who control their tongue, the wise who control their mind are truly well controlled 25. “The mendicant who controls one’s tongue, who speaks wisely and calmly, who is not proud, who illuminates the meaning of the truth, that one’s words are sweet.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))

 SABEANISM: “The…tongue….is….sharper than a sword,” words inflict harm on others when evil passes out of the mouth, so refrain your tongue from speaking foolishness. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 24)

 BABI RELIGION: “Withhold thy tongue from uttering that which might grieve thee and beseech God for mercy. Verily He is fully cognizant of the righteous, for He is with such of His servants as truly believe in Him, and He is not unaware of the actions of the mischief-makers, inasmuch as nothing whatever in the heavens or on the earth can escape His knowledge.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 162)

BAHA’I FAITH: “The tongue is a smoldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endureth a century.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 264)

Baha’i Faith: “If thy daily living become difficult, soon thy Lord will bestow upon thee that which shall satisfy thee. Be patient in the time of affliction and trial, endure every difficulty and hardship with a dilated heart, attracted spirit and eloquent tongue in remembrance of the Merciful. Verily this is the life of satisfaction, the spiritual existence, heavenly repose, divine benediction and the celestial table! Soon thy Lord will extenuate thy straitened circumstances even in this world.” “O ye servants! There is nothing in this heart save the effulgences of the splendor of the morn of Meeting, and it does not speak but the absolute truth from your Lord. Therefore, do not follow self; break not God‘s Covenant and violate not His Testament. Proceed with perfect steadfastness, and with heart, soul and tongue, turn unto Him, and be not of the thoughtless.”

(Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Sections, pp. 375 and 434)