What Does the Bible Say About Malice?

1. #1Ephesians 4:31-32

   Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

   BSBGet rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

2. #2Proverbs 15:1

   A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

   BSBA gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

3. #3Proverbs 12:16

   A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

   BSBA fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

4. #4Psalms 37:8-9

   Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

   BSBRefrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm. For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

5. #5James 1:19-20

   Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

   BSBMy beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

6. #6Matthew 7:12

   Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

   BSBIn everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.

7. #71 Peter 2:1

   Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

   BSBRid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander.

8. #8Matthew 6:14-15

   For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

   BSBFor if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.

9. #9James 1:26

   If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

   BSBIf anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.

10. #10Galatians 5:19-21

    Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

    BSBThe acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).

Malice in Nave's Topical Bible

Malice in Torrey's Topical Textbook

Related topics

• Controlling Anger
• Controlling Your Anger
• Anger Management
• Anger and Forgiveness
• Harsh Words
• Being Anger
• Rage
• Calling Names
• Harboring Anger
• Temper