Words are powerful. They can build up or tear down, encourage or discourage, heal or wound. As Christians, we are called to be mindful of our words, speaking with grace, wisdom, and love. A careless word can cause great harm, just like a small spark can start a massive fire. This is why we must learn to control our tongues and speak in a way that honours God and blesses others.
Holding our tongue does not mean we should never speak. Instead, it means speaking with intention, wisdom, and self-control. Even Jesus chose His words carefully and often remained silent when faced with false accusations. Speaking less and listening more allows us to avoid unnecessary conflicts and prevents us from saying things we may later regret. A controlled tongue is a sign of maturity and spiritual growth.
When we speak, our words should bring life, not destruction. Harsh or reckless words can damage relationships and create division, but kind and thoughtful words can bring healing and unity. Learning to pause before speaking helps us consider whether our words are helpful or harmful. Asking God for wisdom in our speech ensures that what we say reflects His love and truth.
Preachers Quotes
“Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten.” – Charles Spurgeon
“Before you speak, think: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary? Will it glorify God?” – John Wesley
“A word out of season may mar a whole life, and a word spoken in season may save a soul from eternal ruin.” – D.L. Moody
“Silence is sometimes the best answer to someone who is wrong.” – Dr. Billy Graham
“God gave us two ears and one mouth, meaning we should listen twice as much as we speak.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life; a reckless tongue crushes the spirit.” – Matthew Henry
“Wise words are not always the most spoken words but the most carefully chosen.” – A.W. Tozer
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Bible Verses About Holding Your Tongue
Proverbs 10:19 – The wisdom of restraining words
“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.” – Proverbs 10:19
Proverbs 15:1 – The power of a gentle answer
“A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1
James 1:19 – Be quick to listen and slow to speak
“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” – James 1:19
Proverbs 17:27 – A man of understanding has a calm spirit
“He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.” – Proverbs 17:27
Ecclesiastes 5:2 – Be careful when speaking before God
“Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.” – Ecclesiastes 5:2
Proverbs 21:23 – Guarding the mouth preserves life
“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.” – Proverbs 21:23
Matthew 12:36 – We will give account for every idle word
“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” – Matthew 12:36
James 3:5 – The tongue is small but powerful
“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!” – James 3:5
Psalm 141:3 – A prayer for guarding the mouth
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.” – Psalm 141:3
Proverbs 13:3 – He who guards his mouth preserves life
“He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.” – Proverbs 13:3
Titus 3:2 – Speak evil of no one
“To speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” – Titus 3:2
Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” – Ephesians 4:29
Psalm 34:13 – Keep your tongue from evil
“Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.” – Psalm 34:13
Colossians 4:6 – Let your speech be seasoned with grace
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” – Colossians 4:6
James 3:8 – The tongue is untamable without God
“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” – James 3:8
Proverbs 29:11 – A fool vents all his feelings
“A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.” – Proverbs 29:11
Proverbs 12:18 – Reckless words pierce like a sword
“There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.” – Proverbs 12:18
Proverbs 15:28 – The righteous studies before speaking
“The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.” – Proverbs 15:28
Matthew 15:18 – The tongue reveals the heart
“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.” – Matthew 15:18
Psalm 39:1 – Guard your ways to avoid sinning with the tongue
“I said, ‘I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.’” – Psalm 39:1
Ecclesiastes 10:12 – The words of the wise are gracious
“The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up.” – Ecclesiastes 10:12
Luke 6:45 – The mouth speaks what is in the heart
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” – Luke 6:45
Psalm 120:2 – Deliver me from lying lips
“Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.” – Psalm 120:2
Proverbs 18:7 – A fool’s mouth is his destruction
“A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.” – Proverbs 18:7
Proverbs 16:24 – Pleasant words bring healing
“Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.” – Proverbs 16:24
Psalm 52:2 – The tongue devises destruction
“Your tongue devises destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.” – Psalm 52:2
Proverbs 22:11 – He who loves a pure heart will have the king as his friend
“He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend.” – Proverbs 22:11
Proverbs 31:26 – A virtuous woman speaks with kindness
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.” – Proverbs 31:26
Isaiah 50:4 – God gives wisdom to speak a word in season
“The Lord God has given me The tongue of the learned, That I should know how to speak A word in season to him who is weary.” – Isaiah 50:4
Psalm 19:14 – May the words of my mouth be acceptable
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14
1 Peter 3:10 – Love life by refraining from evil speech
“For ‘He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.’” – 1 Peter 3:10
Psalm 37:30 – The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom
“The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice.” – Psalm 37:30
Jeremiah 9:8 – The tongue can be an arrow of deceit
“Their tongue is an arrow shot out; It speaks deceit; One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, But in his heart he lies in wait.” – Jeremiah 9:8
Job 27:4 – A commitment to truthful speech
“My lips will not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit.” – Job 27:4
Psalm 64:3 – The wicked sharpen their tongues like swords
“Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows—bitter words.” – Psalm 64:3
Micah 6:12 – The deceitful tongue brings judgment
“For her rich men are full of violence, Her inhabitants have spoken lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.” – Micah 6:12
James 3:10 – Blessing and cursing should not come from the same mouth
“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” – James 3:10
Proverbs 14:3 – The mouth of the foolish brings destruction
“In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, But the lips of the wise will preserve them.” – Proverbs 14:3
Matthew 5:37 – Let your yes be yes and no be no
“But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” – Matthew 5:37
James 3:2 – Controlling the tongue leads to maturity
“For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.” – James 3:2
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What Does The Bible Say About Holding Your Tongue
The Bible talks a lot about the power of words and the importance of holding our tongue. It teaches that our words can bring life or death, build up or destroy, and reflect what is in our hearts. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” This means that what we say has serious effects on our lives and the lives of others.
One of the strongest warnings about the tongue comes from James 3. James compares the tongue to a small fire that can burn down a whole forest. He says, “The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity” (James 3:6). He also teaches that no human being can completely control the tongue without God’s help. This shows us that speaking wisely is not just about self-control but about allowing God to guide our words.
The Bible also tells us to be slow to speak and quick to listen. James 1:19 says, “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” This means that we should think before we speak and not let our emotions control our words. Proverbs 10:19 warns, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” The more we talk without thinking, the more likely we are to say something wrong.
Jesus also taught about the power of words. In Matthew 12:36-37, He said that people will have to give an account for every careless word they speak. He added, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” This means that our words matter to God, and we should use them carefully.
Holding our tongue does not mean we should never speak. Instead, it means we should speak with wisdom, love, and self-control. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Our words should help and encourage others, not hurt them.
Psalm 141:3 is a great prayer to remember: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” Asking God for help in controlling our words is the best way to make sure we speak wisely. When we learn to hold our tongue, we bring peace, show wisdom, and reflect the character of Christ.