Keeping the Tongue from Evil
G. M. Mackie, M. A. Psalm 34:12 What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? 1. There are different ways of sinning with the tongue. Our words may be — (1) Exaggerated. It is easy to make light of the common expressions, "terrible, awful," and the like; but they are on the road to sin, and betray a tendency to make more of things than they deserve, which is at bottom self-conceit. (2) Insincere. Saying pleasant things without meaning them — the wrong and sinful side of politeness. (3) Malicious. Speaking falsely about a person so as to hurt him. (4) Profane. The use of vulgar and blasphemous words which young people adopt as a sign of manly independence. And that often goes further, and becomes filthy and immoral. 2. The tongue may be kept:(1) By keeping the heart right. (2) By persistent effort to break a bad habit. (3) By the choice of good friends. (4) By prayer. (G. M. Mackie, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? WEB: Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?