01_Biblica_1_F_Gregory_Layout 1 05/11/12 12:13 Pagina 321 Slips of the Tongue in the Speech Ethics of Ben Sira In characterizing the speech ethics of the Hebrew Bible and more specifically the wisdom literature, there is much that is un- surprising. The biblical authors unanimously commend honesty, self-control, and keeping promises. Conversely, they roundly con- demn actions such as lying, gossip, slander, cursing, mockery, and perjury. No ancient sage would disagree with this counsel, and yet the recurring presence of such admonitions from Mesopotamian to Greco-Roman sources simply highlights how prevalent and attrac- tive various speech sins are to humans, regardless of cultural con- text or social location. Such prevalence might indicate that there is a widespread consensus that humans have a proclivity towards im- proper speech that takes effort and wisdom to avoid. However, against the background of Proverbs, it is remarkable that Ben Sira speaks on several occasions of “a slip of the tongue”, which appears to represent a new element in Jewish sapiential speech ethics. Be- fore examining the references to this phenomenon in Ben Sira, the teaching of Proverbs needs to be considered briefly. I. The Ability to Control the Tongue in Proverbs In Proverbs, the standard positions concerning proper and improper speech can be found throughout the book, but what is interesting is the way that these positions are coordinated with descriptions of the wise and the foolish and the anthropological presuppositions involved in such statements. The first thing to note about the understanding of the “tongue” in Proverbs is that the sages have a sober recognition of the enormous power of the tongue for either good or ill 1. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (18,21) By the blessing of the upright a city is lifted up, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. (11,11) 1 All translations are mine unless otherwise noted. BIBLICA 93.3 (2012) 321-339