What the Bible says about words and speech

The 15 verses readers most often turn to for this topic, quoted in full from the Berean Standard Bible.

Eph 4:29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Prov 18:21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Jas 1:26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.

Prov 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Prov 21:23He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

Prov 12:18Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Prov 15:4A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

1 Pet 3:10For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

Ps 141:3Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

Prov 10:19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Jas 3:8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Ps 19:14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Ps 34:13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.

Matt 15:11A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

Prov 16:24Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

These are the verses readers most often turn to for this topic — not a teaching on it. Read each in its chapter.

Sources

The verses of each topic and their order: OpenBible.info topical data, by readers’ votes: OpenBible.info · CC BY 4.0

Berean Standard Bible · Public domain