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100 Bible Verses about Self-control

Proverbs 25:28 ESV / 2,911 helpful votes

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 1,783 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.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV / 1,524 helpful votes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 1,369 helpful votes

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

2 Peter 1:5-7 ESV / 1,133 helpful votes

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Proverbs 16:32 ESV / 1,089 helpful votes

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

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV / 986 helpful votes

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV / 978 helpful votes

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Peter 4:7 ESV / 809 helpful votes

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.

Titus 1:8 ESV / 663 helpful votes

But hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

Titus 2:11-14 ESV / 538 helpful votes

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 516 helpful votes

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Corinthians 9:25 ESV / 502 helpful votes

Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV / 464 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. 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.

Titus 2:12 ESV / 427 helpful votes

Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Romans 12:2 ESV / 383 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.

Galatians 5:23 ESV / 372 helpful votes

Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1 Corinthians 7:5 ESV / 362 helpful votes

Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

James 1:19 ESV / 353 helpful votes

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

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV / 349 helpful votes

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

Proverbs 29:11 ESV / 336 helpful votes

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

1 Corinthians 7:9 ESV / 333 helpful votes

But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 309 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Titus 2:2 ESV / 303 helpful votes

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.

Ephesians 6:12 ESV / 299 helpful votes

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Titus 2:11-12 ESV / 298 helpful votes

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 284 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.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 ESV / 237 helpful votes

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 227 helpful votes

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

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 ESV / 221 helpful votes

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Job 31:1 ESV / 216 helpful votes

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?

Titus 2:6 ESV / 213 helpful votes

Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

Galatians 5:21 ESV / 211 helpful votes

Envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

James 3:1-18 ESV / 204 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! ...

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 202 helpful votes

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

Romans 12:1 ESV / 189 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.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV / 187 helpful votes

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Matthew 5:28 ESV / 179 helpful votes

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

1 John 2:16 ESV / 176 helpful votes

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

James 1:19-20 ESV / 172 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.

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV / 171 helpful votes

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 171 helpful votes

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

1 Peter 1:13 ESV / 169 helpful votes

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 12:16 ESV / 168 helpful votes

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

1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV / 165 helpful votes

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

1 Timothy 4:7 ESV / 163 helpful votes

Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;

Proverbs 4:27 ESV / 157 helpful votes

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV / 155 helpful votes

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Romans 12:19 ESV / 151 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.”

2 John 1:8 ESV / 150 helpful votes

Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.

Hebrews 4:15 ESV / 149 helpful votes

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Proverbs 25:26 ESV / 139 helpful votes

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Luke 4:1-13 ESV / 138 helpful votes

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, ...

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 138 helpful votes

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

1 Timothy 2:9 ESV / 133 helpful votes

Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,

1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV / 133 helpful votes

Abstain from every form of evil.

Romans 8:13 ESV / 133 helpful votes

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

1 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 132 helpful votes

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Acts 24:25 ESV / 130 helpful votes

And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

2 Peter 1:5-6 ESV / 129 helpful votes

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,

Proverbs 16:9 ESV / 123 helpful votes

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

1 Corinthians 5:11 ESV / 122 helpful votes

But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 ESV / 122 helpful votes

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

Romans 13:14 ESV / 114 helpful votes

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Galatians 5:16-17 ESV / 112 helpful votes

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

James 1:20 ESV / 110 helpful votes

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

Romans 6:12 ESV / 110 helpful votes

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions.

Deuteronomy 28:1-68 ESV / 110 helpful votes

“And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. ...

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 ESV / 107 helpful votes

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 107 helpful votes

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

Matthew 5:38-39 ESV / 105 helpful votes

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matthew 26:52-54 ESV / 103 helpful votes

Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

Ephesians 6:1 ESV / 100 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 Timothy 3:3 ESV / 96 helpful votes

Heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,

1 Corinthians 6:10 ESV / 96 helpful votes

Nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Proverbs 20:1 ESV / 95 helpful votes

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Isaiah 28:7 ESV / 92 helpful votes

These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink; the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, they are swallowed by wine, they stagger with strong drink, they reel in vision, they stumble in giving judgment.

Genesis 39:1-23 ESV / 91 helpful votes

Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. ...

Hebrews 12:1 ESV / 88 helpful votes

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Romans 8:5-6 ESV / 88 helpful votes

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 87 helpful votes

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

1 Corinthians 9:24 ESV / 86 helpful votes

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.

Isaiah 5:11 ESV / 85 helpful votes

Woe to those who rise early in the morning, that they may run after strong drink, who tarry late into the evening as wine inflames them!

Titus 2:1-12 ESV / 83 helpful votes

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. ...

Ephesians 4:26 ESV / 83 helpful votes

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

Isaiah 53:7 ESV / 82 helpful votes

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

Genesis 4:1-26 ESV / 82 helpful votes

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. ...

Proverbs 23:20-21 ESV / 80 helpful votes

Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.

Hosea 4:11 ESV / 78 helpful votes

Whoredom, wine, and new wine, which take away the understanding.

1 Samuel 24:1-7 ESV / 78 helpful votes

When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. ...

1 Corinthians 15:33-36 ESV / 77 helpful votes

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

Genesis 26:17-22 ESV / 76 helpful votes

So Isaac departed from there and encamped in the Valley of Gerar and settled there. And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them. But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water, the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, “The water is ours.” So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him. Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitnah. ...

Luke 4:1-44 ESV / 73 helpful votes

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, ...

Colossians 3:16 ESV / 72 helpful votes

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Jeremiah 4:22 ESV / 71 helpful votes

“For my people are foolish; they know me not; they are stupid children; they have no understanding. They are ‘wise’—in doing evil! But how to do good they know not.”

John 3:16-17 ESV / 69 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.

Nahum 1:3 ESV / 69 helpful votes

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 ESV / 67 helpful votes

Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Acts 24:24-25 ESV / 67 helpful votes

After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV / 66 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.

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