A Reading from St. Anthony, Abbot
Watchfulness of the Tongue

 

In His sacred Gospel Our Lord Jesus Christ says to us:  Enter ye in at the narrow gate (Mt. vii. 13).  Again He says:  That through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God (Acts xiv. 21).  What this narrow gate is through which we must enter the wise Solomon makes clear to us where he says:  My son, give not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin (Eccles. v. 5). And again:  The mouth of a fool is his destruction (Prov. xviii 7).  Let us therefore strive to place a strong guard on our lips, that they may not utter anything evil:  for evil speech is worse than all poisons.

All other wounds may be healed, but the wound of the tongue has no cure.  The tongue of the dragon is less evil than that of the whisperer, which in turn comes from a most evil demon: for it provokes quarreling and bitter strife between brethren, sows evil and discord among the peaceful, scatters many communities.  If you permit the whisperer to approach you, he will strip you of every merit you possess. Whosoever becomes involved with him has already become a confederate in his bloodshed, in his murders, and in his slayings! For a whisperer and a murderer spawn the same whelp:  if they do not slay you with the sword, they will bring the same disaster on you with the tongue. 

The tongue of the whisperer differs little from the serpent’s bite: rather, better to live with serpents and scorpions than dwell with a whisperer.  A blasphemer or a tyrant is better than a whisperer. All sins are less grievous than those of the whisperer.  The whisperer and those who give ear to him  receive the same condemnation.  Better for you to come close to fire and be burned, than come night to a whisperer.  Should you tread on boiling pitch, and go carefully, you may escape hurt.  But should you chance to pass by a whisperer, keep far from him, lest he lead you into irreparable disasters:  for his mouth at all times is filled with treachery and death.