He deprives the trusted advisers ¹  of speech ²  and takes away the discernment ³  of elders.

There is no actual speech or word, nor is its ¹  voice literally heard.

Excessive ¹  speech ²  is not becoming for a fool; ³  how much less are lies ⁴  for a ruler! ⁵ 

Day after day it speaks out; ¹  night after night it reveals his greatness. ² 

His disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking plainly ¹  and not in obscure figures of speech! ² 

Remove perverse speech ¹  from your mouth; ²  keep devious talk far from your lips. ³ 

She persuaded him ¹  with persuasive words; ²  with her smooth talk ³  she compelled him. ⁴ 

The one who loves a pure heart ¹  and whose speech is gracious ²  – the king will be his friend. ³ 

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity ¹  than one who is perverse in his speech ²  and is a fool. ³ 

For you were made rich ¹  in every way in him, in all your speech and in every kind of knowledge ²  –

You will no longer see a defiant ¹  people whose language you do not comprehend, ²  whose derisive speech you do not understand. ³ 

For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech ¹  and difficult language, ²  but ³  to the house of Israel –

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

The whole earth ¹  had a common language and a common vocabulary. ² 

Listen carefully ¹  to my words; let your ears be attentive to my explanation. ² 

“Listen carefully ¹  to my words; let this be ²  the consolation you offer me. ³ 

“But now, O Job, listen to my words, and hear ¹  everything I have to say! ² 

Pay attention and listen to my message! ¹  Be attentive and listen to what I have to say! ² 

Come, let’s go down and confuse ¹  their language so they won’t be able to understand each other.” ² 

My teaching will drop like the rain, my sayings will drip like the dew, ¹  as rain drops upon the grass, and showers upon new growth.