Passage

Quick to hear, slow to speak

Source and translation

World English Bible, Protestant Edition · Public domain · en

¹⁹So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;
²⁰for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God.

James 1:19–20World English Bible, Protestant Edition

The scene

The instruction gives three different speeds: quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

To understand

The next sentence explains the warning about anger by relating it to God's righteousness. Hearing and speaking are placed before that warning.

A question

What changes when hearing is given priority over speaking?