speech
What does the Bible say about speech? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
17 passages · most helpful first
29Let no evil words proceed from your mouth, but only what is good, toward the edification of faith, so as to bestow grace upon those who listen.
3O Lord, station a guard over my mouth and a door enclosing my lips.
15And the eloquence of my mouth will be so as to please, along with the meditation of my heart, in your sight, forever, O Lord, my helper and my redeemer.
4My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will speak prudence.
13Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion.
13The fear of the Lord hates evil. I detest arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits.
19You know this, my most beloved brothers. So let every man be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to anger.
1A mild response shatters anger. But a harsh word stirs up fury.
23Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
30The mouth of the just one will express wisdom, and his tongue will speak judgment. 31The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be supplanted.
2For we all offend in many ways. If anyone does not offend in word, he is a perfect man. And he is then able, as if with a bridle, to lead the whole body around. 3For so we put bridles into the mouths of horses, in order to submit them to our will, and so we turn their whole body around. 4Consider also the ships, which, though they are great and may be driven by strong winds, yet they are turned around with a small rudder, to be directed to wherever the strength of the pilot might will. 5So also the tongue certainly is a small part, but it moves great things. Consider that a small fire can set ablaze a great forest. 6And so the tongue is like a fire, comprising all iniquity. The tongue, stationed in the midst of our body, can defile the entire body and inflame the wheel of our nativity, setting a fire from Hell. 7For the nature of all beasts and birds and serpents and others is ruled over, and has been ruled over, by human nature.
24Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
9By it we bless God the Father, and by it we speak evil of men, who have been made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so!
4A peaceful tongue is a tree of life. But that which is immoderate will crush the spirit.
15Instead, acting according to truth in charity, we should increase in everything, in him who is the head, Christ himself.
11A man is not defiled by what enters into the mouth, but by what proceeds from the mouth. This is what defiles a man.”