The Poison of Slander

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-16-2022

Psalm 7

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 7 is the story of Cush the Benjamite, a man who took it upon himself to slander David.  This is the only place in the Bible where we find Cush the Benjamite mentioned, so there is much discussion as to who he was, when this was, and why it took place. What we do know is that someone by that name, an enemy of David and an enemy of God, did David a great injustice and tried to get him killed.

 

B.  The Psalm is an important one because everyone of us here tonight has suffered under the wicked tongue of others.

 

C.  In James, chapter 3, verses 1-10—we find a Full Mention Principle of Bible Interpretation concerning the tongue. There we find:

 

1.  The tongue can be hard to manage.

 

2.  The tongue can kindle a great fire.

 

3.  The tongue can be set on fire of hell. Satan uses the tongue.

 

4.  The tongue can be an unruly evil, full of poison.

 

D.  The tongue of Cush is found in the history of this Psalm as an attempt to destroy a man after God’s own heart.

 

E.  We also find in this Psalm another truth. Those who use the tongue in such a way come into condemnation by it. “What goes around comes around.”

 

Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

 

F.  This was no ordinary slander as Cush desired David’s death. But David turned the situation into a Psalm of praise instead of one of defeat. The slander was rightly handled!

 

1.  Verse 1-2.  David’s Prayer.  He took it to the LORD.  David’s confidence in the LORD was not shaken by his situation.  I thank the Lord that we can approach Him in the direst of situation and expect Him to: (I have found that the more that you try to correct slander, the worse it looks on you.  Give a correction; keep it simple; do not try to slander the slanderer; and MOVE ON!  Your friends with believe you and your enemies will not.)

 

a.  Confidence in God to hear our supplication.

 

b.  Confidence in God to assess our situation.

 

c.  Confidence in God to sustain our soul.

 

2.  Verses 3-5. David’s Submission.  David bows to the will and way or God.

 

a.  His submission to the LORD’s scrutiny. The FIRST thing that did was David to ask  God to search his soul to see if the slander was a right one. (Make sure that the slander is a false one, not a right one.  Do not ask man if it is right, ask the Lord and He will answer you.)

 

b.  His submission to the LORD’s sentencing. If the slander was right, David bowed to the punishment from God that was appropriate.

 

3.  Verses 6-9. David’s Seeking. Imprecatory praying (to invoke evil or a curse): praying for the justice and judgment of God upon evil doers who will neither stop persecuting the righteous nor will they get right with the Lord.  (This type of praying is to be used sparingly and only in extreme cases of slander when the enemy persists in his destruction.  In the New Testament, we are command to pray for them and do good to them if and when possible.)

 

a.  The LORD’s justice. “Arise, O LORD, in thine anger”

 

b.  The LORD’s judgment. “to the judgment that thou hast commanded.”

 

4.  Verses 10-11.  David’s Sanctuary. The Lord is our refuge in times of trouble.  In Him, we live and have our being and His love never diminishes, nor His protection ever fails.  (The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, my Fortress, my Refuge, my High Tower, my Protector, and my Rock.)

 

a.  My defense. Our defense is of God.

 

b.  My deliverance. Our deliverance is in God.

 

5.  Verses12-16.  David’s Satisfaction. 

 

a.  The sinner’s choice.  “If he turn not”  Cush could have owned up to his slander of David and the judgment of God removed.

 

b.  The sinner’s condemnation.  “His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.”

 

6.  Verse 17.  David’s Song.

 

a.  Preemptive praise.  “I will praise”

 

b.  Public praise.  “I will sing” turned into a Psalm.

O Thou Deceitful Tongue

 Temple Baptist Church - 6-26-2022

Psalm 52

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 52 is ascribed to David when he was hiding from Saul. 

 

1.  David went to Kirjathjearim where the Tabernacle of the Congregation was for 20 years until David brought it home to its proper place.

 

2.  He and his men came to Ahimelech, the Priest, and Ahimelech gave David’s men food and also Goliath’s sword to David.  1 Samuel 21:1-9

 

3.  Doeg, the chief of herdsman for Saul, saw David there and went and told Saul. 

 

4.  Saul called Ahimelech and the priests and, when they came, had Doeg and Saul’s footmen to destroy them.  85 priests died that day because of the treason and tongue of Doeg.

 

B.  David breaks the Psalm into three parts:

 

1.  Verses 1-4.  The wickedness of the deceitful tongue.

 

2.  Verses 5-7.  The impending judgment of God.

 

3.  Verses 8-9.  David’s protection from the tongue.

 

C.  There are several descriptions of this wicked use of the tongue found in verses 1-4.

 

1.  Verse 2.  A Devising Tongue – Doeg the Mischievous.  “Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully”

 

2.   Verse 3.  A Deceptive Tongue – Doeg the Liar.  “Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness.”

 

3.  Verse 4.  A Devouring Tongue – Doeg the Hateful.  “Thou lovest all devouring words,”

 

4.  Verse 4.  A Deceitful Tongue – Doeg the Wicked.  “O thou deceitful tongue.”

 

5.  Verse 5.  A Destroying Tongue -Doeg the Destroyed.   “God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living.” The Double Sword – Destroys both the speaker and the spoken about

 

6.  Verses 6-7.  The Derision of the Saved – “The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him”

 

7.  Verse 8.  The Defense of the Saved – “I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. “

 

8.  Verse 9.  The Devotion of the Saved – “I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.”

 

D.  The tongue is a dangerous thing.  “Never leave your tongue in gear when your brain is idling.”  The tongue is often called the wickedest member of the church.  Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

 

1.  A Divisive Tongue - Proverbs 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

2.  A Gossiping Tongue - Proverbs 26:20   Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

 

3.  A Backbiting Tongue - Psalms 15:1-3  LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

 

4.  A Prating Tongue - 3 John 9-10   I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

 

5.  A Deceitful Tongue - Psalms 50:19  Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

 

6.  A Murmuring Tongue – Acts 6:1   And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

 

7.  A Discouraging Tongue - Deuteronomy 1:28  Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.

 

Proverbs 21:23  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

 

Evil Speaking and Judging

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-19-2022

James 4:11-12

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Before we get into these verses, let me say that not all criticism is bad or unnecessary.  There is a huge difference between constructive and destructive criticism.

 

1.  There is constructive criticism that has the power to aid or change someone in a right way.  I am glad that I had people in my life that helped me to do things in a right way by correcting me in a right way. 

 

2.  Without constructive criticism, our culture would not have advanced to where it is today.  Every generation would have to reinvent the wheel, etc. 

 

3.  I think that it was Will Rodgers who said that "Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects.”   This is not what the Book James is written about.

 

B.  Our text is specific.  It is about "evil speaking."  This is an area where most people, including this pastor, has failed.  The bible has much to say about saying too much!  Especially in the area of evil speaking and righteously judging which are purposefully destructive.

 

First Mention - Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  (Subtil – crafty, whispering, dividing, destroying)

 

Last Mention - 2 Corinthians 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (Beguiled – seduce wholly, deceive)

 

Romans 1:28-32  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  (29)  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  (30)  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  (31)  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  (32)  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 

2 Corinthians 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:  (behind the back quietly lest the backbiter be exposed)

 

Psalms 41:7  All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

 

Proverbs 16:28  A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

 

Proverbs 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  (17)  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  (18)  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  (19)  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

C.  Let us just look at the wording of our text.

 

1.  Verse 11.  The Sin of Slander.

 

a.  "Speak not evil" – this implies intent and means to speak to cause intentional hurt.  Speaking evil means to slander someone with ill intent.  Slanderers are wicked people who intentionally take upon themselves to destroy another person.  This is not speaking about someone in an uplifting way, but in such a way to cause harm and hurt. 

 

b.  What is said may even be true but not helpful.  There is an old saying, "If you have something to say about me, say it on you knees to Someone who can help me." 

 

c.  "speaketh evil of one another, brethren" - Not speaking to the one slandered but speaking of them to others with the intent to damage their reputation.  Not speaking of the unsaved, though I believe that we need to be careful in this area also but speaking of our spiritual brothers and sisters to cause harm. 

 

d.  We are family!  When a brother is down, we pick him up, not put our foot on him and keep him there!

 

Galatians 6:1-2  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  (2)  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

 

c.  "He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law."  Sitting in the Judgment Seat by becoming the judge, jury, and hangman.  There are two aspects of judging that our Lord spoke of:

 

1.  There is unrighteous judgment - Matthew 7:1-2  Judge not, that ye be not judged.  (2)  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  (What goes around comes around!)

 

2.  There is righteous judgment - John 7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

 

Romans 2:1-2  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.  (2)  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

 

D.  "But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge."  Let me illustrate what James is saying in this last part of verse 11.  In our legal system, judges are appointed to set on the bench and judge the law.  These judges are human like as the one that is to be judged and, therefore, imperfect also.  Yet, they are appointed to carry out "the letter of the law" to the individual who stands before them.  When a brother appoints himself as the judge of the law over another brother, then he is no longer a "doer of the law."  He is not to be judged but sits in judgment of another brother.

 

Matthew 7:3-5  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  (4)  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  (5)  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

 

E.  Verse 12.  There is one lawgiver, the Lord Jesus Christ—therefore—there is one judge!  He can either be lenient or He can hold us to the "letter of the law" which killeth.

about him or her.

 

Romans 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

 

2 Corinthians 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The Tongue: The Wickedest Member Of The Church

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-27-2021

James 3:1-10

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  One of the laws of Biblical Hermeneutics is that of Full Mention where "God declares his full mind upon any subject vital to our spiritual life."  We find in these verses the Full Mention Principle concerning the tongue.

 

B.  It is of the utmost importance to us because we all have one!  Many sins of the Bible have little effect upon certain people. Last week, we dealt with Satan’s desire for the local church:  division!  Division can be accomplished in more than one way, but the simplest of these ways is that of an unbridled tongue.

 

James 1:26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.  (A bridle is something that all of us are familiar with: a device used to both control and guide a horse.  It controls the horse to keep him from being rambunctious and it guides the horse to move in the direction of its master's desire.)

 

Proverbs 10:19  In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.  (The more that we say, the more likely we are to say something that is either wrong or something right that we will later regret.  Just because something is right does not mean that the time or the situation is right for it to be said.  Refrain means wisdom in the tongue's use.)

 

Proverbs 12:13  The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

 

Proverbs 13:3  He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

                       

Proverbs 17:27-28  He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent 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.

                    

Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

 

Proverbs 21:23  Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.  (This is one of my wife's life verses [the other being Isaiah 26:3].  To keep is to guard: to guard your mouth and your tongue which in turn will guard your soul.)

 

Ecclesiastes 5:3  For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

                      

Ecclesiastes 10:13-14  The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.  (14)  A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

 

Matthew 12:34  O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

 

1 Corinthians 1:12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.  (The division within the Corinthian Church would have never come about if its members had refrained from saying!  Each and everyone of us has different opinions and thoughts in certain areas and wisdom is needed to understand what needs to be said and what does not need to be said, thus maintaining unity within the body.)

 

C.  God's desire for the local church is unity!  I have often said, “Keep your words short and sweet for you never know which ones you will eat.”  Speaking without thinking, in times of reaction, or in times of anger can do untold damage.  Once words are turned loose, there is neither stopping nor gathering them back up again.  You can never take them back once said and their effect is often lasting.

 

Proverbs 18:19  A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

 

D.  Like the subject of hell, we do not preach on the tongue often enough.  I try to watch mine but often turn it loose.  A man once said, “Never leave your tongue in gear while your brain is idling!”  We are all prone to do this so I will try to give each of us a little help to refresh our minds and resolves concerning its use.

 

E.  Last week, we have established several things:

 

1.  Everyone has a tongue!

 

2.  The tongues can be wicked when allowed to flap!

 

3.  All of us has at one time or another, said things that ought not to be said and we regret.

 

4.  Be not many masters: we do not have to speak on every subject because we do not know every subject.

 

5.  The more we speak, the more opportunity to say the wrong thing.

 

F.  Some folks think that if they think it, they need to say it.  Some folks think that if it is right, they need to say it.  You do not need to say everything that you think nor is it always appropriate to say everything that is right.  There is a time and purpose to every season and that includes the tongue.

 

G.  Here are several misuses of the tongue that cause infinite damage and or division:

 

1.  A Divisive Tongue - Proverbs 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.  (God hates discord and the tongue that goes around spreading seeds of discontent.  The church has an order: come to the pastor first with problems that involve the welfare of the church.)

 

2.  A Gossiping Tongue - Proverbs 26:20   Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.  (Most of the time, you need to pray for an individual, not talk about them!  “Did you hear about so-in-so?”  What a shame!  We are not even to speak of those things done in darkness when it comes to sin and the less people who know about certain situations the easier that it becomes to reconcile them.)

 

          Here are some questions that will stop the "gossiping tongue.”

 

a. What is your reason for telling me?

 

b. Where did you get your information?

 

c. Have you gone to those directly involved?

 

d. Have you personally checked out all of the facts?

 

e. Can I quote you if I check this out?

 

3.  A Backbiting Tongue - Psalms 15:1-3  LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.  (This one goes along with the previous tongue but is a little different.  Gossip is to spread while backbiting is to devour and defame.  Satan does a good enough job without us so leave the slander up to him!  He is the accuser.)

 

Romans 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

 

Psalms 101:5  Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

 

Exodus 20:16  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

 

Leviticus 19:16  Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.

 

1 Timothy 3:11  Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

 

1 Timothy 5:13  And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.

 

4.  A Critical Tongue - Psalms 64:3  Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:  (Many times, people’s faults are outward and easily seen.  They become the object of critical people with critical tongues.  Most of the time, I had rather have the object’s outward fault than to have a clean outward and have a harsh, critical spirit on the inside.  Our Lord spoke more than once of the Pharisees cleaning the outward while remaining wickedly religious on the inside.)

 

5.  A Prating Tongue - 3 John 9-10   I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10  Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

 

1 Timothy 5:19  Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.  (Mischievous tongue.  Notice this verse said “witnesses,” not gossipers!  Simply trying to stir up something.  By the way, never listen to evil reports against God’s men.  Tell the individual who speaks against the pastor that you want him or her to go with you to visit the man of God and give him the complaint personally.)

 

Psalms 50:19  Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.

 

Psalms 52:2  Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

 

Psalms 52:4  Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.

 

6.  A Murmuring Tongue – Acts 6:1   And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

 

Exodus 16:8  And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.

 

1 Corinthians 10:10  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

 

Philippians 2:14   Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  (I don’t like this or I don’t like that!  No one can please everyone all of the time and some decisions that must be made are not popular.)

 

7.  A Discouraging Tongue - Deuteronomy 1:28  Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.  (Be an encouragement to others so that, when your time comes to be down in the dumps, there will be someone there to encourage you.  The world discourages us enough without help from the inside.)

 

9.  A Lying Tongue - Psalms 109:2  For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

 

Psalms 120:2-3  Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue. 3  What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?

Proverbs 6:17  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Proverbs 26:28   A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. (Tell the truth!  A half truth is still a whole lie so, if you are not sure about something, it is better left unsaid.)

 

Conclusion: 

 

A. The tongue is descriptive.  The tongue shows on the outside what is on the inside.

 

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

 

B. The tongue is devious. Set on fire in hell is a wonderful description of how devious the tongue is: belongs to us but lent to Satan.

 

Proverbs 21:23   Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

 

Psalms 34:13  Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

 

Psalms 39:1  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.

 

Psalms 39:3  My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

 

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:

 

C. The tongue is destructive.

 

Proverbs 18:21   Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

 

Matthew 12:36-37  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.