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4. Wholesome tongue. Literally, “the healing tongue.” The sort of healing a wholesome tongue can do is shown by the contrasting statement, “breaks the spirit.” The wounds made by a perverse tongue lodge in the heart and mind. Barbed words often rankle for years, and sap physical and mental energy and upset the spiritual life. Because the healing tongue soothes these wounds and stops the losses, it is well described as a tree of life (see James 3:1-10; MH 492; 4T 256; GW 120).