What Does the Bible Say About Think Before You Speak?

James 1:19 ESV / 11 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 10 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 10:19 ESV / 8 helpful votes

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

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 8 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes

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

James 1:19-20 ESV / 6 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 / 6 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes

If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Proverbs 12:22 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 5 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.

James 1:26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

James 1:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 ESV / 4 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.

Ecclesiastes 3:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 17:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 4 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.”

Numbers 23:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

James 3:1-18 ESV / 3 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 1:1-27 ESV / 3 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. ...

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 4:25 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Matthew 25:1-46 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ...

Matthew 12:34 ESV / 3 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.

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 16:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Genesis 6:1-8:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ...

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 2 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.”

James 3:2 ESV / 2 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.

James 3:1-2 ESV / 2 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.

Romans 6:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 2 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.”

Proverbs 31:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. ...

Proverbs 25:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 19:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.

Proverbs 18:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Proverbs 16:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 15:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 11:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

Proverbs 10:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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

Genesis 10:1-13:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

These are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations. ...

49 Bible Verses about Think Before You Speak

James 1:19 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:19-20 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 29:20 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:22 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:26 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 5:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 3:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 17:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Numbers 23:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:1-18 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:1-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:25 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 25:1-46 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 12:34 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 6:1-8:22 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 6:1-2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 31:1-31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 25:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 19:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 10:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 10:1-13:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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