My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

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

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

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

Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.

But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,

He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.

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

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.

The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.

He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.

Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.

Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

I have many things to write to you, but I would prefer not to do so with pen and ink. Instead, I hope to see you soon and speak with you face to face. Peace to you. The friends here send you greetings. Greet each of our friends there by name.

And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does. Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. . . .

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide. It is not our affection, but yours, that is restrained. As a fair exchange, I ask you as my children: Open wide your hearts also.

Indeed, ask now from one end of the heavens to the other about the days that long preceded you, from the day that God created man on earth: Has anything as great as this ever happened or been reported?

On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor. Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

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

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

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

With his mouth the ungodly man destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.

Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed. The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

Do not pay attention to every word that is spoken, or you may hear your servant cursing you. For you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.

Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”

The way of the LORD is a refuge to the upright, but destruction awaits those who do evil.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

How the gold has become tarnished, the pure gold has become dull! The gems of the temple lie scattered on every street corner. How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands! Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but the daughter of my people has become cruel, like an ostrich in the wilderness. The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any. Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps. . . .

Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.