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100 Bible Verses about Harsh Words

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 321 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 198 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 158 helpful votes

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 134 helpful votes

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

James 1:19-20 ESV / 129 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 94 helpful votes

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Proverbs 15:18 ESV / 91 helpful votes

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

James 1:20 ESV / 81 helpful votes

For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Psalm 37:8 ESV / 77 helpful votes

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 75 helpful votes

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 65 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 62 helpful votes

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

James 1:19 ESV / 54 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

James 1:26 ESV / 53 helpful votes

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

Matthew 5:21-22 ESV / 53 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

James 3:5-12 ESV / 51 helpful votes

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. ...

Matthew 5:43-48 ESV / 50 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ...

Hebrews 12:14 ESV / 46 helpful votes

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 44 helpful votes

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Romans 12:21 ESV / 43 helpful votes

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 41 helpful votes

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV / 39 helpful votes

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Romans 12:1 ESV / 38 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Proverbs 25:15 ESV / 36 helpful votes

With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 35 helpful votes

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 32 helpful votes

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 31 helpful votes

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 30 helpful votes

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Proverbs 16:24 ESV / 30 helpful votes

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

Proverbs 16:32 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 26 helpful votes

Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

Romans 12:14 ESV / 26 helpful votes

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Luke 6:45 ESV / 26 helpful votes

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Proverbs 29:22 ESV / 26 helpful votes

A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 22 helpful votes

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Psalm 145:9 ESV / 22 helpful votes

The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

Psalm 145:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 20 helpful votes

If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Proverbs 10:12 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

2 Chronicles 10:7 ESV / 20 helpful votes

And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please them and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

Romans 10:9 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 8:1-3 ESV / 18 helpful votes

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

Romans 5:8 ESV / 18 helpful votes

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Mark 7:14-23 ESV / 18 helpful votes

And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) ...

Jonah 4:2 ESV / 18 helpful votes

And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Proverbs 28:25 ESV / 18 helpful votes

A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

Proverbs 15:2 ESV / 18 helpful votes

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

Psalm 103:8 ESV / 18 helpful votes

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

1 Peter 3:9 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

Matthew 18:15 ESV / 17 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

Proverbs 16:1-33 ESV / 17 helpful votes

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. ...

Proverbs 14:29 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 15:23 ESV / 16 helpful votes

To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!

James 3:5 ESV / 15 helpful votes

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 15 helpful votes

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Proverbs 14:1-35 ESV / 15 helpful votes

The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. ...

1 Kings 12:7 ESV / 15 helpful votes

And they said to him, “If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever.”

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 14 helpful votes

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

John 14:6 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Proverbs 25:11 ESV / 14 helpful votes

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

1 Samuel 25:10 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And Nabal answered David's servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters.

James 5:16 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Proverbs 15:1-33 ESV / 13 helpful votes

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. ...

1 Samuel 25:21-22 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Now David had said, “Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.”

1 Samuel 25:10-11 ESV / 13 helpful votes

And Nabal answered David's servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?”

Judges 8:1 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Then the men of Ephraim said to him, “What is this that you have done to us, not to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they accused him fiercely.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV / 12 helpful votes

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Romans 8:1 ESV / 12 helpful votes

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 5:44 ESV / 12 helpful votes

But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

1 Kings 12:13-16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him, he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, “My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.” So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by the Lord that he might fulfill his word, which the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So Israel went to their tents.

2 Samuel 19:43 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, “We have ten shares in the king, and in David also we have more than you. Why then did you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of bringing back our king?” But the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.

John 1:16-17 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Matthew 15:26 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.”

Proverbs 31:26 ESV / 11 helpful votes

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Judges 12:3-6 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?” Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and Manasseh.” And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” When he said, “No,” they said to him, “Then say Shibboleth,” and he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell.

Luke 9:57-62 ESV / 10 helpful votes

As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” ...

Luke 1:37 ESV / 10 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Proverbs 26:4-5 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 17:27-28 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Proverbs 15:11 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man!

James 1:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Ephesians 4:25 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Romans 12:17-21 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 12:34 ESV / 9 helpful votes

You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Ecclesiastes 10:12 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

Proverbs 11:12 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 9 helpful votes

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

John 3:16-17 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 8 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

1 Peter 3:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes

As Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

James 3:2 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Ephesians 4:22 ESV / 7 helpful votes

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,

Proverbs 26:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

Psalm 37:8-9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Mark 4:1-41 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea, and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. ...

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