Topical Bible

What Does the Bible Say About Speech?

Here are 17 Bible verses about speech, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.

  1. #1Ephesians 4:29

    Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

    BSBLet 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.

  2. #2Psalms 141:3

    Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

    BSBSet a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

  3. #3Psalms 19:14

    Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

    BSBMay the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

  4. #4Psalms 49:3

    My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding.

    BSBMy mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.

  5. #5Proverbs 18:13

    He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

    BSBHe who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.

  6. #6Proverbs 8:13

    The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

    BSBTo fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

  7. #7Proverbs 18:21

    Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

    BSBLife and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

  8. #8James 1:19

    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

    BSBMy beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

  9. #9Proverbs 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.

  10. #10Proverbs 21:23

    Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

    BSBHe who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

  11. #11Psalms 37:30-31

    The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

    BSBThe mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice. The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not falter.

  12. #12James 3:2-10

    For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: …

    BSBWe all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal. Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined. In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, …

  13. #13Proverbs 16:24

    Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

    BSBPleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

  14. #14James 3:9-10

    Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

    BSBWith the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

  15. #15Proverbs 15:4

    A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

    BSBA soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

  16. #16Ephesians 4:15

    But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

    BSBInstead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

  17. #17Matthew 15:11

    Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

    BSBA man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

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

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