27.  He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent (cool, marg.) spirit. 28.  Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding

Psalm 39:1, 2

1 ¶ {To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.} I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. {my mouth...: Heb. a bridle, or, muzzle for my mouth} 2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. {stirred: Heb. troubled}

 

Matthew 7:6

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Footnote:

Chapter 10:19. Job 13:5. Compare Ecclesiasticus 5:12, 13; 33:7-9. Dr. Good in his note on Job 13:5, gives a translation of an Arabic poetical proverb:

 

 

Keep silence then; nor speak, but when besougt;

Who listens long, grows tired of what is told:

With tones of silver through thy tongue be fraught,

Know this — that silence of itself is gold.

 

Proverbs 10:19

19 ¶ In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

 

Job 13:5

5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.

 

Compare

Ecclesiasticus 5:12, 13

Be stedfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be the same. Be swift to hear; and let thy life be sincere; and with patience give answer. If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; if not, lay thy hand upon thy mouth. Honour and shame is in talk: and the tongue of man is his fall. Be not called a whisperer, and lie not in wait with thy tongue: for a foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the double tongue.

 

Ecclesiasticus 33:7-9

7 Why doth one day excel another, when as all the light of every day in the year is of the sun? 8 By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished: and he altered seasons and feasts. 9 Some of them hath he made high days, and hallowed them, and some of them hath he made ordinary days. (This reference may be a mistake/typo, as it does not seem in any way to refer to the tongue/speach).

Matthew 16:4

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

Footnote:

Numbers 12:1, 2. Psalm 38:12-14. Isaiah 53:7.

 

 

Numbers 12:1, 2

1 ¶ And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. {Ethiopian: or, Cushite} {married: Heb. taken} 2 And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.

 

Psalm 38:12-14

12 ¶ They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. 13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

 

Isaiah 53:7

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Luke 9:54, 55

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

Footnote:

Nehemiah 5:6-11. Cicero advises his brother Quintus (a proconsul in Asia) most diligently to restrain his tongue under anger, which — he adds — is no less a virtue, than freedom from anger itself.. — Epist. ad. Q. Fratrem, lib. i. 1.

 

 

Nehemiah 5:6-11

6 ¶ And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words. 7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them. {I consulted...: Heb. my heart consulted in me} 8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer. 9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? 10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury. 11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

2 Chronicles 25:16

16 And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that the king said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel. {determined: Heb. counselled}

Footnote:

Leighton on 1 Peter 3:9.

 

 

1 Peter 3:9

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Contrast

Proverbs 15:2

2 ¶ The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. {poureth: Heb. belcheth, or, bubbleth}

 

Proverbs 29:11

11 ¶ A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

Footnote:

Bishop Hall. Works, viii. 83.

Proverbs 18:21

21 ¶ Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Matthew 12:36, 37

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Isaiah 6:7

7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. {laid...: Heb. caused it to touch}