May the words we speak point others to Jesus. 

愿我们口中的言语，能引人归向耶稣。 

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. James 3:9

我们用舌头颂赞那为主、为父的，又用舌头咒诅那照着上帝形像被造的人。-雅各书3章9节 

When my grandmother came to Mexico as a missionary, she had a hard time learning Spanish. One day she went to the market. She showed her shopping list to the girl helping her and said, “It’s in two tongues(lenguas).” But she meant to say that she had written it in two languages(idiomas). The butcher overheard them and assumed she wanted to purchase two cow tongues. My grandmother didn’t realize it until she got home. She had never cooked beef tongue before!

当年我祖母来到墨西哥宣教时，西班牙语学得很辛苦。有一天，她上菜市场，在购买肉类时，她把购物清单交给女店员说：“我的西班牙文不好，也许要你向老板稍费唇舌。”老板听到了，却以为我祖母要买牛舌，当时祖母也没发现，直到回家后才知道买错了。她可从来没有煮过牛舌呢！

Mistakes are inevitable when we are learning a second language, including learning the new language of God’s love. At times our speech is contradictory because we praise the Lord but then speak badly of others. Our old sinful nature opposes our new life in Christ. What comes out of our mouths shows us how much we need God’s help.

在我们学习第二种语言时，难免会犯错，当然学习上帝的爱这种新的语言，也不例外。有时我们说话会前后矛盾，因为我们先是赞美上帝，接着却又说起别人的坏话。我们旧有的犯罪天性，常会抵抗我们在基督里的新生命。我们的口中所出的话语，显示出我们多么需要上帝的帮助。

Our old “tongue” must go away. The only way to learn the new language of love is by making Jesus the Lord of our speech. When the Holy Spirit works in us, He gives us self-control to speak words that please the Father. May we surrender every word to Him! “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).

我们必须除去旧有的生命、旧有的言语。只有让耶稣掌管我们口中的话语，我们才能学会这种全新爱的语言。当圣灵在我们心里动工，祂会赐给我们自我节制的能力，好让我们口中的言语能得天父的喜悦。愿祂亲自引导我们所说的每一句话！“耶和华啊，求祢禁止我的口，把守我的嘴”(诗篇141篇3节) 。

Lord Jesus, take control of my mouth today. Forgive me for careless, thoughtless, and angry words. Let my words bless You and others.

主耶稣，求祢把守我的口舌。

求祢饶恕我那些轻率的、
任性的和愤怒的言语。
让我的话语能颂赞祢，并能祝福他人！

James 3:1-12NIV

Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they sayis perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

整理：于姊妹