Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/300

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LESSON XX

JOSEPH THE DREAMER

(Genesis XXXVII) I seek my brethren. (Genesis XXXVII, 16.)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs XVIII. 21.)

Read Proverbs III, 1-7.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue", the wise Book of Proverbs says. It is told that Rabban Simon ben Gamaliel once ordered his servant to bring from the market the best thing to be found there. To the good rabbi's surprise he brought a tongue. At another time the rabbi commanded him to bring the worst thing the market could offer. To his still greater surprise the servant again brought a tongue. "How is this", the master asked: "when I bade thee bring the best thing the market provided, thou didst bring a tongue. And now that I have ordered the worst thing, thou dost still bring a tongue?" "Good master", answered the wise servant, "dost thou not know that a tongue may be either the best or the worst thing in this world accordingly as its owner uses it?"

How true this is! Our tongues are gifts from God, given for blessing, to be used to further God's wise and good purpose, for which, we believe, Ile has placed us all here on earth. How much good can the tongue do, how much happiness can it bring, when it speaks words of kindness, love and truth! And how much evil can it work, and how much unhappiness can it cause, if it speaks words of false-