“The boneless tongue, so small and weak,

Can crush and kill,” declared the Greek.

The Persian proverb wisely saith,

“A lengthy tongue, an early death.”

Sometimes it takes this form instead:

“Don’t let your tongue cut off your head.”

While Arab sages this impart:

“The tongue’s great storehouse is the heart.”

From Hebrew wit, the maxim’s sprung:

“Though feet should slip, don’t let the tongue.”

A verse from Scripture crowns the whole:

“Who keeps the tongue doth keep his soul.”

The Harvester, 36:6