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100 Bible Verses about Using Bad Language

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 1,216 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.

Ephesians 5:4 ESV / 871 helpful votes

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

Colossians 3:8-10 ESV / 534 helpful votes

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Exodus 20:7 ESV / 405 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 / 342 helpful votes

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

Matthew 15:11 ESV / 303 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.”

Psalm 34:12-14 ESV / 289 helpful votes

What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 272 helpful votes

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

James 3:1-18 ESV / 235 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! ...

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 189 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 10:11 ESV / 184 helpful votes

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 176 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 19:1 ESV / 174 helpful votes

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

Proverbs 26:20 ESV / 147 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 10:18 ESV / 134 helpful votes

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

Luke 6:45 ESV / 131 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 19:11 ESV / 128 helpful votes

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 19:20 ESV / 116 helpful votes

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Proverbs 17:4 ESV / 111 helpful votes

An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 110 helpful votes

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

Colossians 3:8 ESV / 99 helpful votes

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

Ecclesiastes 7:9 ESV / 89 helpful votes

Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.

Proverbs 25:11 ESV / 84 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 10:32 ESV / 80 helpful votes

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

Proverbs 10:14 ESV / 79 helpful votes

The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 ESV / 73 helpful votes

Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

James 1:26 ESV / 71 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 10:20 ESV / 71 helpful votes

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

Proverbs 17:27 ESV / 70 helpful votes

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

Titus 3:2 ESV / 67 helpful votes

To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

James 3:10 ESV / 65 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 10:21 ESV / 65 helpful votes

The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

Romans 3:10-18 ESV / 59 helpful votes

As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” ...

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 58 helpful votes

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

1 Peter 3:9-11 ESV / 54 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. For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 53 helpful votes

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

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 51 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.

John 16:33 ESV / 47 helpful votes

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 47 helpful votes

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

Hosea 4:2 ESV / 45 helpful votes

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

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 42 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.”

Ecclesiastes 7:21-22 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Do not take to heart all the things that people say, lest you hear your servant cursing you. Your heart knows that many times you yourself have cursed others.

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 38 helpful votes

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

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 37 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.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 36 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.

1 Corinthians 3:16 ESV / 35 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 5:3-4 ESV / 34 helpful votes

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Luke 12:10 ESV / 33 helpful votes

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Luke 6:28 ESV / 31 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 31 helpful votes

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

Leviticus 19:12 ESV / 30 helpful votes

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

James 3:5-6 ESV / 29 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.

Romans 12:14 ESV / 29 helpful votes

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

Deuteronomy 5:11 ESV / 27 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.

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 26 helpful votes

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Ephesians 5:6 ESV / 26 helpful votes

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Proverbs 12:16 ESV / 26 helpful votes

The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 26 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.”

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 25 helpful votes

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 25 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.

Colossians 3:1-25 ESV / 24 helpful votes

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ...

1 Peter 1:15 ESV / 23 helpful votes

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

James 5:12 ESV / 23 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.

Ecclesiastes 10:12 ESV / 23 helpful votes

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

Psalm 19:14 ESV / 23 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.

James 3:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 30:9 ESV / 22 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.

Colossians 1:1-29 ESV / 20 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, ...

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 20 helpful votes

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

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 20 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.

Micah 6:8 ESV / 20 helpful votes

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Proverbs 4:23 ESV / 20 helpful votes

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

Romans 8:31 ESV / 19 helpful votes

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Matthew 5:13 ESV / 19 helpful votes

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 19 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.

Proverbs 11:13 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Psalm 109:1-31 ESV / 19 helpful votes

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Be not silent, O God of my praise! For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues. They encircle me with words of hate, and attack me without cause. In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. So they reward me evil for good, and hatred for my love. ...

1 Peter 4:14 ESV / 18 helpful votes

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Proverbs 15:2 ESV / 18 helpful votes

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

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV / 18 helpful votes

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

James 3:9-12 ESV / 17 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.

James 1:21 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Matthew 12:34-37 ESV / 17 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 5:21-22 ESV / 17 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.

Proverbs 15:23 ESV / 17 helpful votes

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

Philippians 3:8 ESV / 16 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

Luke 1:37 ESV / 16 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

2 Peter 2:18 ESV / 15 helpful votes

For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.

Ephesians 4:26-27 ESV / 15 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.

Romans 3:13-14 ESV / 15 helpful votes

“Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”

Matthew 5:33-37 ESV / 15 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.

2 Timothy 2:16 ESV / 14 helpful votes

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

1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 5:7 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Colossians 2:1-23 ESV / 13 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. ...

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 13 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Ephesians 4:28 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

John 14:6 ESV / 12 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.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 11 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 ...

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