In an interview published on the day of the second GOP debate, Donald Trump is signaling that he may try to "tone it down."

Asked by CBN interviewer David Brody about a weakness that he could try to improve upon, Trump said: "Well, it's a tough question because you hate to say what your weaknesses are. But I think I could tone it down a little bit when pressed."

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"When somebody hits, you can hit a little bit less hard." he added. "At the same time, that may be the kind of thing that the country needs because we have to hit back hard, we have to fight hard because we're not going to have a country. But I think I could tone it down a little bit, and I'll try."

Trump leads in polls of Republican primary voters, although former neurosurgeon Ben Carson has gained ground in recent weeks. The two candidates recently traded barbs over their commitment to Christian faith.

Trump acknowledged that his blunt mannerisms might be a conflicting influence for evangelicals who want to support him.

"I can understand the evangelicals to a certain extent saying, 'Well, maybe he's not as nice as we want him to be.' But they also want to see the country be great," Trump said.

He also talked about scripture - a topic he's previously avoided, calling it too "personal."

"There's so many things that you can learn from it," he said. "Proverbs, the chapter 'never bend to envy.' I've had that thing all of my life where you're -- people are bending to envy," Trump said. "And they're just -- actually it's an incredible book. So many things you can learn from the Bible."

Brody told the Washington Post that Trump appeared to be referencing Proverbs 24:1-2, which reads "Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief."