13. Let there be a door to thy mouth, that
it may be shut when need arises, and let it be carefully barred, that
none may rouse thy voice to anger, and thou pay back abuse with
abuse. Thou hast heard it read to-day: “Be ye angry
and sin not.” Ps. iv. 4. Therefore
although we are angry (this arising from the motions of our nature, not
of our will), let us not utter with our mouth one evil word, lest we
fall into sin; but let there be a yoke and a balance to thy words, that
is, humility and moderation, that thy tongue may be subject to thy
mind. Let it be held in check with a tight rein; let it have its
own means of restraint, whereby it can be recalled to moderation; let
it utter words tried by the scales of justice, that there may be
seriousness in our meaning, weight in our speech, and due measure in
our words.