100 Bible Verses about Swearing And Cursing

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 790 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.

James 5:12 ESV / 625 helpful votes

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

James 3:10 ESV / 596 helpful votes

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Ephesians 5:4 ESV / 548 helpful votes

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 352 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.

Exodus 20:7 ESV / 341 helpful votes

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Proverbs 4:24 ESV / 293 helpful votes

Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 253 helpful votes

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

Luke 6:45 ESV / 223 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.

Matthew 12:34-37 ESV / 205 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. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 5:33-37 ESV / 192 helpful votes

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

James 1:26 ESV / 187 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 15:11 ESV / 179 helpful votes

It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Romans 3:14 ESV / 173 helpful votes

“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

Leviticus 19:12 ESV / 153 helpful votes

You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

Proverbs 8:13 ESV / 142 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

2 Timothy 2:16 ESV / 120 helpful votes

But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

1 Peter 3:10 ESV / 110 helpful votes

For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

Luke 6:28 ESV / 101 helpful votes

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 98 helpful votes

Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

James 4:7 ESV / 96 helpful votes

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 93 helpful votes

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

Romans 12:14 ESV / 86 helpful votes

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

1 Peter 1:15 ESV / 81 helpful votes

But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

James 3:1-12 ESV / 81 helpful votes

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 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. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 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! ...

1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV / 80 helpful votes

Abstain from every form of evil.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 77 helpful votes

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

Leviticus 20:9 ESV / 77 helpful votes

For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.

Romans 12:1 ESV / 75 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.

James 3:9-12 ESV / 74 helpful votes

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 74 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.

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 72 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 72 helpful votes

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

James 3:13 ESV / 67 helpful votes

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 65 helpful votes

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

2 Peter 1:4 ESV / 64 helpful votes

By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 64 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Romans 12:2 ESV / 64 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 63 helpful votes

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

Luke 1:37 ESV / 62 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

1 John 3:8 ESV / 60 helpful votes

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Psalm 10:7 ESV / 60 helpful votes

His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

Matthew 15:10-11 ESV / 59 helpful votes

And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

Psalm 109:17 ESV / 59 helpful votes

He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV / 58 helpful votes

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?

Psalm 119:72 ESV / 57 helpful votes

The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Deuteronomy 5:11 ESV / 57 helpful votes

“‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Psalm 59:12 ESV / 56 helpful votes

For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter,

John 14:6 ESV / 55 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.

Matthew 5:34 ESV / 55 helpful votes

But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

Psalm 34:13-14 ESV / 54 helpful votes

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

James 1:15 ESV / 53 helpful votes

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 53 helpful votes

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

1 John 1:8 ESV / 52 helpful votes

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

James 1:19 ESV / 52 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 51 helpful votes

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

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 49 helpful votes

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

James 3:9 ESV / 49 helpful votes

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

Hosea 4:2 ESV / 49 helpful votes

There is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Proverbs 4:23 ESV / 49 helpful votes

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

1 Corinthians 3:17 ESV / 48 helpful votes

If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Proverbs 30:11 ESV / 48 helpful votes

There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.

Proverbs 30:9 ESV / 48 helpful votes

Lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Joshua 1:9 ESV / 48 helpful votes

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

James 1:20 ESV / 47 helpful votes

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

Luke 6:35 ESV / 47 helpful votes

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

Matthew 15:18-20 ESV / 47 helpful votes

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 47 helpful votes

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

James 3:5-6 ESV / 46 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.

James 1:1-27 ESV / 46 helpful votes

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ...

James 3:8 ESV / 45 helpful votes

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

John 15:5 ESV / 45 helpful votes

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 8:44 ESV / 45 helpful votes

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Jeremiah 23:10 ESV / 45 helpful votes

For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right.

Romans 12:19 ESV / 44 helpful votes

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.”

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 43 helpful votes

To the choirmaster: to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.”

Exodus 21:17 ESV / 43 helpful votes

“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.

Philippians 3:8 ESV / 42 helpful votes

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 42 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

James 1:16 ESV / 40 helpful votes

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.

James 1:17 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Colossians 3:22 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 ESV / 39 helpful votes

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 ESV / 39 helpful votes

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

Ephesians 5:29 ESV / 37 helpful votes

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

James 3:11 ESV / 36 helpful votes

Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

James 3:8-10 ESV / 36 helpful votes

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. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Genesis 20:11 ESV / 36 helpful votes

Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’

Matthew 5:44 ESV / 35 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 3:5 ESV / 35 helpful votes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

James 1:5 ESV / 34 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.

Romans 3:10 ESV / 34 helpful votes

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;

Isaiah 41:10 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Genesis 3:17 ESV / 34 helpful votes

And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;

Colossians 1:1-29 ESV / 32 helpful votes

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ...

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 32 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 32 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

James 3:1 ESV / 29 helpful votes

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Colossians 2:1-23 ESV / 26 helpful votes

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. ...

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