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:
Parallel translations
- WEB For, “He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.
- BSB For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
- NKJV For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.
- NASB For, “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.
- NLT For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Quoting the Psalms, Peter says whoever wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceit. A blessed life begins with controlled, truthful speech.
Overview
Peter supports his call to bless by quoting Psalm 34:12-13. The path to a good life starts with guarding one's speech against evil and deceit. This grounds Christian conduct in Scripture and shows that the way of blessing involves practical, everyday righteousness in how we speak.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 24
- Ps 34:12–16What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
- Jas 1:26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
- 1 Pet 2:22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
- 1 Pet 2:1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
- Rev 14:5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
- John 1:47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
- Jas 3:1–10My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
- Prov 8:35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
- John 12:25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
- Prov 3:2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
- Job 7:7–8O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good.
- Prov 3:18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
- Prov 4:22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
- Matt 13:16–17But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
- Matt 19:17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
- Deut 32:47For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
- Ps 49:19He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.
- Mark 8:35For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
- Ps 27:13I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
- Job 33:28He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
- Job 9:25Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good.
- Job 2:4And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
- Eccl 2:3I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
- Ps 106:5That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
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Original language
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