The Tongue

From Proverbs:
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
[The names for body parts connected with speech are used more frequently in Proverbs than generic terms such as talking or speaking. Thus we can understand the figurative references of statements such as a gentle tongue are a tree of life. Taken as a literal and definite statement, a saying such as truthful lips endure for ever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment (12:19) might seem like wishful thinking on the part of the speaker. But as a figure of speech concerned with the purposes of G-d, it has the force of a faith claim.]
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
[A synonymous (identical) parallelism in this saying, evildoer has approximately the same meaning as liar, while listens to is echoed by gives heed to and wicked lips corresponds with mischievous tongue.]
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
[One sage observes that the person who states his or her case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. Occasionally, it is not possible for human judges to decide on the merits of a case. Then the lot puts an end to disputes and decides between powerful contenders (18:18). When lots are cast, the decision is no longer in human hands, but wholly from the L-rd (16:33; 1 Sam. 14:41-42). The wisdom of experience advises others not to enter too hastily into legal disputes. It is always possible that you yourself will be put to shame in the process (25:8).]
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
[It may be human nature to relish tasty morsels of gossip but the wise know enough to avoid talebearers (11:13, whisperers (16:28), and spreaders of slander (10:18). Quarrels are precipitated by whisperers (26:20), and a backbiting tongue brings forth angry looks (25:23). Disclosing another’s secret is to be avoided, because it may bring shame upon you (25:9-10). Only evildoers listed to wicked lips, and only liar’s give heed to a mischievous tongue (17:4). Those who belittle their neighbors lack sense (11:12), and whoever utters slander is a fool (10:18).
On the other side of slander, flattery is also a perversion of truth. The wise must avoid either giving or being taken in by flattery. Honey is used as a metaphor for flattery; it is sweet, but swallowing too much of it is not healthy (25:27). Aman who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet (29:5), and a flattering mouth works ruin (26:28).]
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
[A number of sayings including several editorial clusters are concerned with wise and foolish ways of using human powers of communication. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, that a soft tongue will break a bone (25:15), that the lips of the wise will preserve them (14:3), and that the speech of the worthless is like a scorching fire (16:27). The tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small tongue of fire (Jas. 3:5-8).
In societies based oral rather than written traditions, it is the tongue rather than the pen which is mightier than the sword. The wise in Israel acknowledge that people can be wounded or healed (12:18; 25:15), destroyed or delivered (11:9), stirred up or calmed down (15:1) by words. Many of the sayings assert that the proper and improper uses of speech have predictable results and that human beings have to live with the consequences of what they say (12:13-14; 18:20-21).]

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Those who want to be considered wise must learn to distinguish between sayings which comment on the way things are and statements which make claims about the way things ought to be. Only then can a word be said to be fitly spoken.