The deceitful, hurtful words of men
Psalm 12:2-4, 6 ESV
[2] Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. [3] May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, [4] those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?”
[6] The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.12.2-6.ESV
The words of men guided by the wisdom of God
Proverbs 12:17-22 ESV
[17] Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. [18] There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. [19] Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. [20] Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. [21] No ill befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. [22] Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.12.17-22.ESV
There is a contrast here in the words of man and how they are used, along with what is in a man’s heart.
Luke 6:45 ESV
[45] The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.6.45.ESV
What we store in our hearts determines the course of our tongues. As the small rutter on a large ship is operated by the will of its driver determining which way the ship will go, so our tongue guides the course of our lives.
James 3:2-10 ESV
[2] For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. [3] If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. [4] Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. [5] So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! [6] And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. [7] For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, [8] but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. [10] From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
https://bible.com/bible/59/jas.3.2-10.ESV
The living power of God’s word has the ability to capture our tongues and hold back the words we would like to say, and often do when we speak out of our emotions, without thinking about what we’re going to say or how we will use our words.
In our natural state we tend to use our words to our advantage, to do and get what we want. When our tongues are guided by our own nature man, there is little or no discipline or discretion. But the man who is filled with and walking in the Spirit will discipline his tongue under the mighty hand of God. Such a man thinks more about other people and their needs and good will, than he does about what he wants. He’ll learn to discipline and curb his tongue as he feeds and meditates on God’s word. His desire to love and serve others will overcome his urge to speak his mind or to use his words idly to serve himself first
Will you use your words for your own selfish motives? Or will you allow the Holy Spirit to discipline and guide your every word? This means taking every thought captive and placing it under the microscope of God’s word, allowing Him to bridle your tongue and keep you from using your words to hurt others.
Living As Light 
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