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100 Bible Verses about Tame Your Tongue

James 1:26 ESV / 255 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 15:4 ESV / 241 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 235 helpful votes

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

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 232 helpful votes

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

James 3:8 ESV / 229 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 226 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.

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 218 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 201 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 197 helpful votes

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

1 Peter 3:10 ESV / 190 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;

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 190 helpful votes

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Matthew 15:11 ESV / 187 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.”

James 3:1-12 ESV / 165 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! ...

James 3:5 ESV / 147 helpful votes

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!

Psalm 34:13 ESV / 146 helpful votes

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

Matthew 12:34 ESV / 143 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.

James 3:6 ESV / 140 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.

James 3:2 ESV / 140 helpful votes

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.

Proverbs 17:28 ESV / 120 helpful votes

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

James 3:1-18 ESV / 118 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! ...

Proverbs 26:20 ESV / 114 helpful votes

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

James 3:1 ESV / 113 helpful votes

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 112 helpful votes

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

James 3:10 ESV / 111 helpful votes

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

Matthew 15:18 ESV / 107 helpful votes

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 104 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 101 helpful votes

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Romans 3:13 ESV / 99 helpful votes

“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 96 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,

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 95 helpful votes

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

James 3:9 ESV / 94 helpful votes

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

Titus 3:2 ESV / 94 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 16:24 ESV / 93 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV / 93 helpful votes

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 92 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.”

Matthew 12:33-37 ESV / 91 helpful votes

“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. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 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.”

Psalm 52:2 ESV / 91 helpful votes

Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit.

James 1:19 ESV / 89 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

James 3:3 ESV / 85 helpful votes

If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.

James 3:2-10 ESV / 85 helpful votes

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! 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. ...

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 82 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.

Revelation 11:1-19 ESV / 79 helpful votes

Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. ...

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 79 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.”

James 1:19-21 ESV / 76 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Proverbs 31:26 ESV / 76 helpful votes

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

James 3:11 ESV / 74 helpful votes

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 73 helpful votes

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 72 helpful votes

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Matthew 23:1-39 ESV / 72 helpful votes

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, ...

Proverbs 17:27-28 ESV / 70 helpful votes

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 11:9 ESV / 68 helpful votes

With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

James 1:19-20 ESV / 67 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 29:20 ESV / 67 helpful votes

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 26:17-28 ESV / 67 helpful votes

Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears. Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!” For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. ...

Psalm 52:2-9 ESV / 67 helpful votes

Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, you worker of deceit. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is right. Selah You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue. But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah The righteous shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him, saying, ...

Proverbs 15:23 ESV / 66 helpful votes

To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!

Psalm 119:171-173 ESV / 66 helpful votes

My lips will pour forth praise, for you teach me your statutes. My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right. Let your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.

Proverbs 12:13-14 ESV / 64 helpful votes

An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble. From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

Proverbs 10:31 ESV / 63 helpful votes

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

James 3:13 ESV / 62 helpful votes

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Proverbs 18:20-21 ESV / 60 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 10:11 ESV / 60 helpful votes

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 58 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.

James 1:21 ESV / 57 helpful votes

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 56 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.

Matthew 12:37 ESV / 55 helpful votes

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 15:2 ESV / 55 helpful votes

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Proverbs 4:23 ESV / 55 helpful votes

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

James 3:12 ESV / 53 helpful votes

Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

James 1:1-27 ESV / 51 helpful votes

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ...

Psalm 64:1-10 ESV / 48 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” ...

Colossians 1:1-29 ESV / 46 helpful votes

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ...

John 3:1-36 ESV / 46 helpful votes

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ...

James 2:1-26 ESV / 45 helpful votes

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? ...

Galatians 5:16 ESV / 45 helpful votes

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

Romans 7:1-25 ESV / 45 helpful votes

Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. ...

Psalm 34:12-13 ESV / 45 helpful votes

What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

Acts 20:1-38 ESV / 44 helpful votes

After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, ...

Proverbs 25:18 ESV / 44 helpful votes

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

Proverbs 16:27 ESV / 44 helpful votes

A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

Mark 7:1-37 ESV / 43 helpful votes

Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” ...

Proverbs 18:8 ESV / 43 helpful votes

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

James 3:15 ESV / 40 helpful votes

This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

James 3:17 ESV / 39 helpful votes

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Proverbs 17:8 ESV / 39 helpful votes

A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.

James 3:16 ESV / 38 helpful votes

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.

Romans 10:9 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Ephesians 4:2 ESV / 37 helpful votes

With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Psalm 140:3 ESV / 37 helpful votes

They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

Matthew 7:16 ESV / 33 helpful votes

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Proverbs 12:9 ESV / 33 helpful votes

Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.

James 2:18 ESV / 32 helpful votes

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

Proverbs 10:21 ESV / 32 helpful votes

The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

Matthew 15:18-19 ESV / 30 helpful votes

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.

James 1:17 ESV / 29 helpful votes

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Romans 3:13-14 ESV / 28 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.”

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV / 28 helpful votes

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

James 3:14 ESV / 27 helpful votes

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

1 Corinthians 14:1-40 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. ...

Proverbs 25:11 ESV / 24 helpful votes

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

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