What Does the Bible Say About Thinking Before You Speak?

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 12 helpful votes

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

Luke 6:31 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 10 helpful votes

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

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

1 Peter 4:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Romans 14:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 12:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 8:17 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

John 3:16 ESV / 6 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.

Proverbs 16:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

1 Corinthians 12:24 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it,

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 3 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; ...

Mark 9:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 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.

John 14:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Matthew 18:18-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Genesis 20:1-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

From there Abraham journeyed toward the territory of the Negeb and lived between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night and said to him, “Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife.” Now Abimelech had not approached her. So he said, “Lord, will you kill an innocent people? Did he not himself say to me, ‘She is my sister’? And she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands I have done this.” ...

1 John 4:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

25 Bible Verses about Thinking Before You Speak

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Luke 6:31 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 9 helpful votes

1 Peter 4:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Romans 14:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Romans 12:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Romans 12:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Romans 8:17 ESV / 6 helpful votes

John 3:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 16:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 12:24 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Mark 9:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 14:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 18:18-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 20:1-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 John 4:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Suggest a Verse

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

25 Bible Verses about Thinking Before You Speak

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 6:31 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 4:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 14:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:17 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 12:24 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 9:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:18-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 20:1-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

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

Proverbs 15:4 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Luke 6:31 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 9 helpful votes

1 Peter 4:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Peter 2:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Romans 14:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Romans 12:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Romans 12:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Romans 8:17 ESV / 6 helpful votes

John 3:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 16:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 12:24 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Proverbs 18:13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Mark 9:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

John 14:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 18:18-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Genesis 20:1-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

1 John 4:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote