The Reward for Guarding One’s Speech:
On the other hand, the reward for guarding one’s tongue is great. Rabenu Yona writes in Shaarei Teshuva (Shaar 3, Ois 210) as follows: “Death and life are in the hand of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits (Mishlei 18:21).” “Those who love it” refers to people who like to talk. The best advice for them is to “eat its fruits”, meaning that they should only speak words of Torah and mussar, as well as words of friendliness to others, praise for good things, and criticism of bad things, but not to speak any pointless words. One can earn untold reward with his tongue, as the pasuk says, “Life is in the hands of the tongue.”
The Yalkut (Devarim 950) states: “Anyone who speaks in defense of a Jew is uplifted by Hashem.” The Medrash (Vayikroh Rabbah 81:42) says that he merits having Hashem speak to him and to receive prophecy directly from him.
It is stated (Yalkut Shoftim 62) that because he spoke in a positive way, he merited having the Shechinah dwell upon him. It is stated that Hashem said, “It is fitting that I should reveal My glory upon him.” And it says that Gideon saved Klal Yisroel and was victorious in war because he spoke well of the Jewish people.
