What Does the Bible Say About When To Speak?

James 1:19 ESV / 27 helpful votes

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

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 15 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 14 helpful votes

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

James 3:2 ESV / 10 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.

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 8 helpful votes

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

James 3:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

John 3:16-17 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. 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.

Matthew 5:10-12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Proverbs 31:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.

Proverbs 17:27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 15:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes

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

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 5 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,

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. 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.

Ephesians 1:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

Galatians 6:1-3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 4 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; ...

Acts 11:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

Proverbs 16:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

2 Timothy 2:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

If we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. ...

Hebrews 12:5-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ...

Ephesians 4:17-5:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ...

Romans 10:10-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ...

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Romans 9:15-16 ESV / 1 helpful vote

For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

Romans 1:16-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Acts 8:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote

And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Mark 7:20-23 ESV / 1 helpful vote

And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Psalm 76:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.

31 Bible Verses about When To Speak

James 1:19 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 14 helpful votes

James 3:2 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 8 helpful votes

James 3:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 6 helpful votes

John 3:16-17 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Matthew 5:10-12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 31:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 17:27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Ephesians 1:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Galatians 6:1-3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Acts 11:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Proverbs 16:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

2 Timothy 2:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Hebrews 12:5-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:17-5:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 10:10-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 9:15-16 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Romans 1:16-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Acts 8:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Mark 7:20-23 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Psalm 76:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote

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31 Bible Verses about When To Speak

James 1:19 ESV / 27 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 3:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 5:10-12 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 31:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 17:27 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 1:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 6:1-3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 11:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 16:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 12:5-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:17-5:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 10:10-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 9:15-16 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 1:16-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 8:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 7:20-23 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 76:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote Helpful Not Helpful

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James 1:19 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Colossians 4:6 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Proverbs 12:18 ESV / 14 helpful votes

James 3:2 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:28 ESV / 8 helpful votes

James 3:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Ephesians 5:11 ESV / 6 helpful votes

John 3:16-17 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Matthew 5:10-12 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 31:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 17:27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

2 Timothy 3:5 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Ephesians 1:11 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Galatians 6:1-3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

Acts 11:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Proverbs 16:23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

2 Timothy 2:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

1 Corinthians 2:1-16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Hebrews 12:5-14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Ephesians 4:17-5:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 10:10-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Matthew 11:28-30 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Romans 9:15-16 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Romans 1:16-17 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Acts 8:1 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Mark 7:20-23 ESV / 1 helpful vote

Psalm 76:10 ESV / 1 helpful vote