100 Bible Verses about Using Profanity

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 2,203 helpful votes

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 2,072 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 12:36-37 ESV / 1,598 helpful votes

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

James 3:10 ESV / 1,516 helpful votes

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Ephesians 5:4 ESV / 1,420 helpful votes

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Matthew 15:10-11 ESV / 1,337 helpful votes

And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

James 1:26 ESV / 1,080 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 909 helpful votes

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

2 Timothy 2:16 ESV / 905 helpful votes

But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

James 3:6-8 ESV / 855 helpful votes

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 809 helpful votes

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Exodus 20:7 ESV / 688 helpful votes

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Luke 6:45 ESV / 672 helpful votes

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 663 helpful votes

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

Proverbs 4:24 ESV / 636 helpful votes

Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 609 helpful votes

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

Psalm 34:13-14 ESV / 570 helpful votes

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Proverbs 6:12 ESV / 495 helpful votes

A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,

Romans 12:2 ESV / 483 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 472 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 420 helpful votes

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Matthew 15:11 ESV / 379 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.”

Psalm 10:7 ESV / 369 helpful votes

His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

1 Peter 3:10 ESV / 367 helpful votes

For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 367 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Psalm 109:17 ESV / 345 helpful votes

He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 316 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Romans 12:14 ESV / 292 helpful votes

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 288 helpful votes

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 277 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Titus 2:6-8 ESV / 274 helpful votes

Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 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.

Hosea 4:2 ESV / 271 helpful votes

There is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Proverbs 8:13 ESV / 261 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

James 4:7 ESV / 247 helpful votes

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Luke 6:28 ESV / 240 helpful votes

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Proverbs 10:31-32 ESV / 240 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.

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 238 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 31:26 ESV / 233 helpful votes

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

James 3:11-13 ESV / 228 helpful votes

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Romans 12:21 ESV / 225 helpful votes

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

James 5:12 ESV / 220 helpful votes

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Leviticus 19:12 ESV / 215 helpful votes

You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

Psalm 34:13 ESV / 208 helpful votes

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 193 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Deuteronomy 5:11 ESV / 193 helpful votes

“‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 190 helpful votes

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV / 186 helpful votes

Abstain from every form of evil.

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 181 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.”

Matthew 5:33-37 ESV / 178 helpful votes

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Proverbs 4:23 ESV / 176 helpful votes

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 174 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 30:9 ESV / 173 helpful votes

Lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Psalm 59:12 ESV / 172 helpful votes

For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter,

Ecclesiastes 5:6 ESV / 170 helpful votes

Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?

Matthew 12:30-37 ESV / 168 helpful votes

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ...

1 Peter 1:15 ESV / 166 helpful votes

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

James 3:9-12 ESV / 162 helpful votes

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Leviticus 20:9 ESV / 158 helpful votes

For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.

Psalm 109:17-18 ESV / 155 helpful votes

He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him! He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 151 helpful votes

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Mark 3:29 ESV / 148 helpful votes

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—

Proverbs 1:1-33 ESV / 143 helpful votes

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, ...

Philippians 2:14-15 ESV / 138 helpful votes

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

James 3:8 ESV / 130 helpful votes

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Philippians 3:8 ESV / 125 helpful votes

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

James 3:1-18 ESV / 119 helpful votes

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ...

Titus 3:2 ESV / 115 helpful votes

To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Psalm 109:28 ESV / 115 helpful votes

Let them curse, but you will bless! They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!

Ephesians 5:6 ESV / 114 helpful votes

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 ESV / 113 helpful votes

Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.

Romans 8:31 ESV / 109 helpful votes

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Matthew 23:12 ESV / 109 helpful votes

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 108 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

2 Peter 2:14 ESV / 107 helpful votes

They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!

Titus 2:7-8 ESV / 106 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.

Psalm 109:1-31 ESV / 105 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love. ...

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 104 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Luke 1:37 ESV / 94 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Matthew 26:74 ESV / 91 helpful votes

Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed.

Romans 3:13-18 ESV / 87 helpful votes

“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” “Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known.” ...

Mark 7:20-23 ESV / 86 helpful votes

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Matthew 12:34 ESV / 85 helpful votes

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Hosea 10:4 ESV / 81 helpful votes

They utter mere words; with empty oaths they make covenants; so judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

Luke 6:27-28 ESV / 79 helpful votes

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Hebrews 6:8 ESV / 78 helpful votes

But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

Leviticus 21:14 ESV / 77 helpful votes

A widow, or a divorced woman, or a woman who has been defiled, or a prostitute, these he shall not marry. But he shall take as his wife a virgin of his own people,

Matthew 15:10 ESV / 69 helpful votes

And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand:

Genesis 3:14 ESV / 68 helpful votes

The Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

Romans 12:1-21 ESV / 62 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ...

John 3:16-17 ESV / 59 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Proverbs 10:18-11:27 ESV / 59 helpful votes

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. ...

Psalm 109:18 ESV / 59 helpful votes

He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones!

Ecclesiastes 4:5-6:11 ESV / 58 helpful votes

The fool folds his hands and eats his own flesh. Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind. Again, I saw vanity under the sun: one person who has no other, either son or brother, yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eyes are never satisfied with riches, so that he never asks, “For whom am I toiling and depriving myself of pleasure?” This also is vanity and an unhappy business. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. ...

Leviticus 5:4-15 ESV / 57 helpful votes

Or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin. “But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the sin offering. He shall wring its head from its neck but shall not sever it completely, ...

Proverbs 13:1-25 ESV / 56 helpful votes

A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence. Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. ...

Proverbs 17:2-19 ESV / 55 helpful votes

A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts. An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. ...

Proverbs 12:16-23 ESV / 55 helpful votes

The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy. ...

Romans 3:9-20 ESV / 53 helpful votes

What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” ...

Ephesians 5:13-6:16 ESV / 52 helpful votes

But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ...

2 Corinthians 13:5-11 ESV / 52 helpful votes

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. ...

Suggest a Verse


Visit the Bible online to search for words if you don’t know the specific passage your’re looking for.