I Fear a Man of Frugal Speech
    by Emily Dickinson

I fear a Man of frugal Speech—
I fear a Silent Man—
Haranguer—I can overtake—
Or Babbler—entertain—

But He who weigheth—While the Rest—
Expend their furthest pound—
Of this Man—I am wary—
I fear that He is Grand—

***

When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. (Prov. 10:19, ESV)

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion. (Prov. 18:2, ESV)

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. (James 1:19, ESV)

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak. (Matt. 12:36, ESV)

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Eph. 4:29, ESV)

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Ps. 19:14, ESV)

But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge. (Matt. 27:14, NIV)

Silence is prerequisite to hearing.
— Eugene Peterson —

***

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5-6, NLT