What Does the Bible Say About Talking?

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 55 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 10:19 ESV / 41 helpful votes

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

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 25 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 24 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 23 helpful votes

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

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 14 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.”

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 13 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.”

Matthew 15:18 ESV / 12 helpful votes

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes

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

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 6 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 11:12-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

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

James 3:2-12 ESV / 5 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. 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! 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. ...

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 4 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.

1 Peter 2:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Matthew 22:34 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

Matthew 12:34 ESV / 3 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.

Proverbs 1:1-31:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, ...

18 Bible Verses about Talking

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 55 helpful votes

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 41 helpful votes

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Matthew 15:18 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 11:12-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

James 3:2-12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Peter 2:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Matthew 22:34 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Matthew 12:34 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 1:1-31:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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18 Bible Verses about Talking

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 55 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 41 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 25 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 24 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 15:18 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 11:12-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:2-12 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 22:34 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 12:34 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 1:1-31:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 55 helpful votes

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 41 helpful votes

Matthew 5:37 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Matthew 15:18 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 11:12-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

James 3:2-12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Peter 2:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Matthew 22:34 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Matthew 12:34 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 1:1-31:30 ESV / 3 helpful votes