What does the Bible say about using profanity?
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The Bible teaches that Christians should put away profanity, filthy speech, and careless words, using their mouths instead to honor God and build up others. Colossians 3:8 and Ephesians 4:29 call believers to reject obscene or corrupt talk and to speak what gives grace to those who hear. Ephesians 5:4 contrasts crude joking and foolish talk with thanksgiving, while James 3:10 warns against blessing God and cursing people with the same tongue. Jesus teaches in Matthew 12:36-37 that people will give account for every careless word. Though the tongue is difficult to tame, God renews His people by His Spirit, producing speech marked by truth, self-control, reverence, and love.
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- Colossians 3:8
but now you also put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking out of your mouth.
- 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.
- Matthew 12:36-37
[36] I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. [37] For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
- James 3:10
Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
- Ephesians 5:4
nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks.
- Matthew 15:10-11
[10] He summoned the multitude, and said to them, "Hear, and understand. [11] That which enters into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man."
- James 1:26
If anyone among you thinks himself to be religious while he doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is worthless.
- Proverbs 21:23
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
- 2 Timothy 2:16
But shun empty chatter, for they will proceed further in ungodliness,
- James 3:6-8
[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.
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