Tongues as Sharp as Swords

Ps. 64:3-5

Words can wound as badly as weapons, likely do so more often, and sometimes - even worse. Who among us has not walked around nursing the deep wounds of an insult or feeling the weight of  guilt for uttering or writing something that should not have been said? 

In 1839 English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton coined the famous phrase :

"The pen is mightier than the sword" in one of his plays. But he too may have borrowed it (and hurt some feelings while at it) for as today’s psalm reveals - the concept goes back to the birth of language, attributed to several classical sources. The Assyrian sage Ahiqar, who reputedly lived during the early 7th century BCE, in known for his adage "The word is mightier than the sword.” And according to the Greek playwright Euripides, who lived in the 5th century BCE,  "The tongue is mightier than the blade.”

Whoever wrote the psalms lived somewhere between those two ancient authors and describes the danger of the verbal violence, attributing the idea to David - the warrior who wrote poems as well. In today’s psalm the poet seeks protection from his enemies - not from their arms but from their mouths: 

תַּ֭סְתִּירֵנִי מִסּ֣וֹד מְרֵעִ֑ים מֵ֝רִגְשַׁ֗ת פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃ אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁנְנ֣וּ כַחֶ֣רֶב לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם דָּֽרְכ֥וּ חִ֝צָּ֗ם דָּבָ֥ר מָֽר׃ לִירֹ֣ת בַּמִּסְתָּרִ֣ים תָּ֑ם פִּתְאֹ֥ם יֹ֝רֻ֗הוּ וְלֹ֣א יִירָֽאוּ׃

“Hide me from a band of evildoers,

from a crowd of wrongdoers,

who whet their tongues like swords;

they aim their arrows—cruel words—

to shoot from hiding at someone blameless,

shooting suddenly and without fear.”

Ps. 64:3-5

Words are dangerous because their hurt is often barely visible - an uttered criticism might linger longer than a scar.  Social media ills are proof of bullying and toxic behavior that may just be txts but cause major trauma, especially to those of us more vulnerable. 

For this psalm’s poet, aware of the awesome power of language, fearful of being attacked, there is a hope for justice, and perhaps for revenge, or self defense: 

וַיֹּרֵ֗ם אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים חֵ֥ץ פִּתְא֑וֹם הָ֝י֗וּ מַכּוֹתָֽם׃ וַיַּכְשִׁיל֣וּהוּ עָלֵ֣ימוֹ לְשׁוֹנָ֑ם יִ֝תְנֹדְד֗וּ כׇּל־רֹ֥אֵה בָֽם׃

“ God shall shoot them with arrows;

they shall be struck down suddenly.

Their tongue shall be their downfall;

all who see them shall recoil in horror.”

Ps. 64:8-9

We always hope that justice will get the final word, and that those whose heart is kind will laugh the laugh last. Here’s hoping.

For each of us, with sharp tongues, quick fingers, and kind hearts — let each and every word lift us up, not add to the worries and wounds of a world already so saddled by sorrow. It begins with each of us, our minds, our fingers, pens, keyboards -  and best intentions. Selah.

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