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100 Bible Verses about Evil Tongue

James 1:26 ESV / 38 helpful votes

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

James 3:8 ESV / 35 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 21:23 ESV / 35 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 35 helpful votes

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

1 Peter 3:10 ESV / 32 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;

James 3:6 ESV / 31 helpful votes

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.

Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 31 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 30 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 18:21 ESV / 28 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV / 24 helpful votes

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 23 helpful votes

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

Romans 3:13 ESV / 22 helpful votes

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

Matthew 12:34 ESV / 19 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 15:28 ESV / 18 helpful votes

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Psalm 140:3 ESV / 17 helpful votes

They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

Psalm 59:12 ESV / 17 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,

James 3:9 ESV / 13 helpful votes

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

James 3:1-18 ESV / 13 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! ...

Ephesians 4:31 ESV / 12 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 10:19 ESV / 12 helpful votes

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

James 3:5 ESV / 11 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!

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 11 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 26:20 ESV / 11 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 15:2 ESV / 11 helpful votes

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

Psalm 141:3 ESV / 11 helpful votes

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

Psalm 39:1 ESV / 11 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.”

James 1:19 ESV / 10 helpful votes

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

Matthew 12:36 ESV / 10 helpful votes

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

Matthew 12:36-37 ESV / 10 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.”

Proverbs 25:23 ESV / 10 helpful votes

The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

Proverbs 16:27 ESV / 10 helpful votes

A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

Psalm 34:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.

Psalm 10:7 ESV / 10 helpful votes

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

James 3:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 17:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 13:3 ESV / 9 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 10:20 ESV / 9 helpful votes

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

Psalm 57:4 ESV / 9 helpful votes

My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

Psalm 15:1-5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Matthew 12:33-37 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 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.”

Proverbs 11:13 ESV / 8 helpful votes

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

Leviticus 19:16 ESV / 8 helpful votes

You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.

1 Peter 2:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

James 4:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

James 4:1-17 ESV / 7 helpful votes

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? ...

1 Corinthians 14:1-40 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. ...

Matthew 12:37 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 19:5 ESV / 7 helpful votes

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

Proverbs 18:8 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Proverbs 17:4 ESV / 7 helpful votes

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

Psalm 15:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

Psalm 5:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 6 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.”

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 6 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,

James 3:2 ESV / 6 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.

James 1:19-20 ESV / 6 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.

Titus 3:1-2 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 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; ...

Psalm 71:24 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, for they have been put to shame and disappointed who sought to do me hurt.

Psalm 37:30 ESV / 6 helpful votes

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

Exodus 20:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Revelation 2:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 5 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 ...

Ephesians 5:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 4:25 ESV / 5 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 10:9 ESV / 5 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.

Matthew 15:11 ESV / 5 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.”

Matthew 5:22 ESV / 5 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 29:20 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 20:19 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

Proverbs 12:22 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Proverbs 4:24 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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

Psalm 3:1-8 ESV / 5 helpful votes

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. ...

Job 5:21 ESV / 5 helpful votes

You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.

2 Samuel 23:2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue.

Jude 1:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

James 3:5-8 ESV / 4 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.

James 3:1-12 ESV / 4 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! ...

James 3:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Titus 3:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Matthew 23:1-39 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, ...

Proverbs 31:26 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 25:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 17:27-28 ESV / 4 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.

Psalm 50:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“You give your mouth free rein for evil, and your tongue frames deceit.

Psalm 35:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then my tongue shall tell of your righteousness and of your praise all the day long.

Jude 1:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

1 John 1:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Matthew 12:35 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

Jeremiah 9:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he plans an ambush for him.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 ESV / 3 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.

Proverbs 25:18 ESV / 3 helpful votes

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

Proverbs 24:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

Proverbs 16:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Proverbs 12:19 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Proverbs 6:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Psalm 119:172 ESV / 3 helpful votes

My tongue will sing of your word, for all your commandments are right.

3 John 1:9-10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

1 Peter 2:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

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