Bible Verses About Guarding Your Tongue

Dear friends, our words carry power – whether used carelessly or with purpose, they can build up or tear down. We must be intentional about how we use our gift of speech. The book of James compares the tongue to a small fire that can set an entire forest ablaze. Like a rudder that steers a ship, the tongue directs the course of our lives.

Before words leave our lips, we would be wise to pause and examine our motivations. Are we speaking from a place of love, empathy and understanding or from irritation, judgment and pride? Consider the impact our words may have on others. Proverbs tell us that reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Gentleness, patience and thoughtful speech seasoned with grace can work wonders.

Of course we will stumble in our speech at times – we are imperfect beings. But we can acknowledge our mistakes, ask forgiveness when needed, and continue trying to tame this unruly tongue. As we fix our eyes on Jesus, our words will more fully reflect His light and love.

Dear friends now let’s see the Bible scriptures below that talk about “Guarding Your Tongue”.

The Power of Words

Proverbs 18:21
“Death life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”

James 3:5
“Even so the tongue is a little member, boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth”

Proverbs 12:18
“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health”

Matthew 12:36-37
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, by thy words thou shalt be condemned”

Proverbs 15:4
“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit”

Proverbs 16:24
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, health to the bones”

Controlling What You Say

James 1:26
“If any man among you seem to be religious, bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain”

Proverbs 21:23
“Whoso keepeth his mouth his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles”

Proverbs 13:3
“He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction”

Prayer for Guidance

Psalm 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth, the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord , my strength, my redeemer”

Psalm 141:3
“Set a watch, O Lord , before my mouth; keep the door of my lips”

James 1:5
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, upbraideth not; it shall be given him”

Colossians 4:2-3
“Continue in prayer, watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds”

Psalm 51:15
“O Lord, open thou my lips; my mouth shall shew forth thy praise”

Jeremiah 1:9
“Then the Lord put forth his hand, touched my mouth. the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth”

Speaking Life and Truth

Ephesians 4:15
“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”

Proverbs 15:1
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger”

Zechariah 8:16
“These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth peace in your gates”

Colossians 3:9
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds”

Proverbs 23:16
“Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things”

John 8:32
“Ye shall know the truth, the truth shall make you free”

Proverbs 8:7
“For my mouth shall speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips”

Psalm 34:13
“Keep thy tongue from evil, thy lips from speaking guile”

Being Quick to Listen

James 1:19
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”

Proverbs 17:28
“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding”

Proverbs 18:13
“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly shame unto him”

Job 6:24
“Teach me, I will hold my tongue: cause me to understand wherein I have erred”

Thinking Before You Speak

Proverbs 15:28
“The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things”

Proverbs 16:23
“The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, addeth learning to his lips”

Ecclesiastes 5:2
“Be not rash with thy mouth, let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few”

Proverbs 29:20
“Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him”

Psalm 39:1
“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me”

Proverbs 10:19
“In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise”

Speech with Grace

Colossians 4:6
“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”

Proverbs 22:11
“He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend”

Ephesians 4:29
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers”

Proverbs 25:11
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver”

Luke 4:22
“All bare him witness, wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?”

Psalm 45:2
“Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever”

Examples from Scripture

Proverbs 31:26
“She openeth her mouth with wisdom; in her tongue is the law of kindness”

1 Peter 3:10
“For he that will love life, see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, his lips that they speak no guile”

2 Timothy 2:16
“But shun profane vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness”

Titus 2:8
“Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you”

Proverbs 10:31
“The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out”

Ecclesiastes 10:12
“The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself”

Psalm 37:30
“The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, his tongue talketh of judgment”