What does the Bible say about using bad language?

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

• Ephesians 4:29

  Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

• Ephesians 5:4

  nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks.

• Colossians 3:8-10

  [8] but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth. [9] Don't lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings, [10] and have put on the new man, that is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his Creator,

• Exodus 20:7

  "You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

• Proverbs 4:24

  Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.

• Matthew 15:11

  That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."

• Psalms 34:12-14

  [12] Who is someone who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? [13] Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking lies. [14] Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it.

• Matthew 12:36

  I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

• James 3:1-18

  [1] Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment. [2] For in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn't stumble in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also. [3] Indeed, we put bits into the horses' mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. [4] Behold, the ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds, are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot desires. [5] So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! [6] And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. [7] For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. [8] But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God. [10] Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. [11] Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? [12] Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water. [13] Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. [14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't boast and don't lie against the truth. [15] This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. [17] But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. [18] Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

• Colossians 4:6

  Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

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