Topical Bible

What Does the Bible Say About Using Profanity?

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

  1. #1Colossians 3:8

    But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

    BSBBut now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

  2. #2Ephesians 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.

  3. #3Matthew 12:36-37

    But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

    BSBBut I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

  4. #4James 3:10

    Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

    BSBOut of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be!

  5. #5Ephesians 5:4

    Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

    BSBNor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

  6. #6Matthew 15:10-11

    And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

    BSBJesus called the crowd to Him and said, “Listen and understand. A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

  7. #7James 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.

  8. #8Proverbs 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.

  9. #92 Timothy 2:16

    But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

    BSBBut avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,

  10. #10James 3:6-8

    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: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

    BSBThe 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, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

  11. #11Psalms 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.

  12. #12Exodus 20:7

    Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

    BSBYou shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.

  13. #13Luke 6:45

    A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

    BSBThe good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

  14. #14Psalms 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.

  15. #15Proverbs 4:24

    Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

    BSBPut away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.

  16. #16Matthew 5:37

    But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

    BSBSimply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

  17. #17Psalms 34:13-14

    Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

    BSBKeep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

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

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