Contagion

O beware the false,
truth severs, void consumes, the -
lie within itself.

What is false, O LORD?
"Falsity is a pretense
that evil is good."

The malice
of mischief.
---<--@

The chief contagion of the upright spirit is a poisoned tongue.

Speak

When you speak, take heed,
do not curse others with lies,
and beguile the weak.

Do not sunder truth,
and mislead the wayfarer,
with a serpent's tongue.

Be sincere,
speak thy truth.
---<--@

Idle Talk

Idle tongues bring woe,
for countless are their troubles,
who talk idle talk.

Better hold your tongue
and keep your peace, than release,
evil, idle talk.

Tact is when
not to speak.
---<--@

The Working of Words

All good words are like fine wine
that when tasted are oft spoken of well
and only grow better with age.

But the bad words,
they are oft remembered
only by their smell which is always
something that is best forgot.

Speak then
only of the good words -
like your love of fine, fine things.

And object firmly
when bad words are spoken
in your own company
like your love of the odor
of fine, fine things.
---<--@