What Does the Bible Say About Our Speech?

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 39 helpful votes

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.

Matthew 15:11 ESV / 37 helpful votes

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Proverbs 18:20-21 ESV / 15 helpful votes

From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Proverbs 17:28 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 10:31-32 ESV / 11 helpful votes

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

James 1:26 ESV / 10 helpful votes

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

Ecclesiastes 5:2-4 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words. When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 10 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 16:24 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Proverbs 15:1-2 ESV / 9 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Proverbs 12:25 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 5 helpful votes

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Proverbs 17:27 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

Exodus 20:8-11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Titus 2:7-8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

Galatians 5:16 ESV / 1 helpful vote

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Proverbs 16:9 ESV / 1 helpful vote

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

22 Bible Verses about Our Speech