⁴ A healed tongue 'is' a tree of life, And perverseness in it—a breach in the spirit.

⁴ A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

⁴ A gentle[1] tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

⁴ A soothing tongue is a tree of life , But perversion in it crushes the spirit .