Controlling The Tongue

Τινές σε γλῶσσαν ἔχειν ἀκρατῆ κωμῳδοῦσι, καὶ τῶν πηγῶν τῆς λοιδορίας ὑπάρχειν ποταμὸν, τὰ ἐκείνης δαψιλῶς καὶ δεχόμενον καὶ ἐρευγόμενον ῥεύματα, ἄπερ εἰς θάλασσαν ἐμβάλλει τιμωρίας. Ἤν εἰ θέλεις ἐκφυγεῖν, τῶν ζώντων μᾶλλον ναμάτων τὸ φρέαρ ἐξερεύνησον, ὅπερ χαρίζεται καὶ τὸ μηκέτι διψᾷν, καὶ τῇ γλώσσῃ ὀρέγει φυλακὴν, μὴ εἰς λόγους ἐκκλίνειν πονηρίας. Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβλίον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολὴ ΤΚΘ' Ἀνατολιῳ Source: Migne PG 78.372c

Some ridicule you for your unbridled tongue, and from the fonts of abuse comes a river, which things profusely receiving, so it bursts forth in flow, as a casting into the sea for punishment. Which if you desire to flee, seek out rather the well of living waters, which satisfy and do not allow later thirst, 1 and supplying a guard for the tongue, do not incline to wicked speech. Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 328, To Anatolius 1 Jn 4.14