The Tongue Holds a Person's Death and Life

Midrash Mishlei 21:4

"He who guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from troubles" (Proverbs 21:23). Rabbi Ishmael said: This teaches that a person's death and a person's life are placed in nothing but the tongue. If one is worthy and guards it, it gives him life; and if not, it puts him to death. And so it says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21).

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