Button Your Lip

(Pro 13:3 KJV) He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Proverbs gives repeated warning about talking too much. James reflects this on his discussion of the tongue.

The KJV uses different words than the NASB.

A wise person “keepeth" (NASB guards) (5341) his mouth. How often do we speak before we think? How often do we get into gossip and empty chatter? Most of the time this causes no issues but it builds a picture in other people’s minds about the kind of person we are. There is a reason why we are repeatedly called on to speak slowly.

This “keepeth" (NASB preserves) (8104) “life” (5315) in many ways. In our culture there are few people who have unregulated power over our lives. In ancient days there were many people who had the power of life and death. Today, in many parts of the world, there are similar people. To use who have freedom of speech and a tolerant society the dangers are often of another nature. There may be times when our opportunities for advancement are ruined by running our mouths too much. We may cause extreme pain in our families by our revved up mouths.

"Keepeth" is two different words in the Hebrew. Both words, though different, have the same definitions. They can be looked at as synonyms.

“Life” (5315) is the word that is also translated “soul”. It refers to the inner self, the total being. You can see how this bit of spiritual advice can be referring to eternal concerns, not just how we get along with our neighbors.