Dangerous Words

Λόγοι κερκώπων μαλακοὶ, πίπτουσι δὲ εἰς τὰ ταμιεῖα κοιλίας. Κέρκωπας ὀνομάζει ὁ Σολομῶν τοὺς ἀλωπεκίζοντας καὶ δολιευομένους. Διό φησιν ὁ Δαυῒδ· Μή με συναπολέσεις, ὁ Θεὸς, μετὰ τῶν λαλούντων εἰρήνην πρὸς τὸν πλησίον, κακὰ δὲ ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν. Ἡπαλύνθησαν γὰρ λόγοι ὑπὲρ ἔλαιον, καὶ αὐτοὶ βολίδες ὑπάρχουσι τιτρῶσαι. Ἅγιος Νειλος, Βιβλιον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολὴ ΞΒ' Καλανδιωνι

Soft the words of the whisperer, but they fall into the chambers of the heart. 1 So Solomon names those who are possessed of vulpine cunning and inflict harm on others. On account of which David says, ' Do not destroy me, God, along with those who speak peace to their neighbours and have evil in their hearts.' 2 For 'Softer their words than anointing oil and they are little shafts that wound.' 3 Saint Nilus of Sinai, Book 1, Letter 62, To Kalandion 1 Prov 26.22   2 Ps 27.3 3 Ps 54.22