Keep Your Tongue From Speaking Evil

                                       Proverbs And Other Passages on The Tongue
                                                  Avoid all perverse talk; stay far from corrupt speech. Pro 4:24

 ...the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself. ... It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely,... this is not right!
James 3:1-12

Talking Too Much

10:19 Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!
17:27 A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.
17:28 Even fools are thought to be wise when they keep silent; when they keep their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
15:28 The godly think before speaking; the wicked spout evil words.
12:23b... fools broadcast their folly.
11:11 Upright citizens bless a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.
18:2 Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.
18:21 Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life.
21:23 If you keep your mouth shut, you will stay out of trouble.

Judging

11:12 It is foolish to belittle a neighbor; a person with good sense remains silent.
18:17 Any story sounds true until someone sets the record straight.

Gossip, Rumors, Slander

11:13 A gossip goes around revealing secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.
20:19 A gossip tells secrets, so don’t hang around with someone who talks too much.
16:27 Scoundrels hunt for scandal; their words are a destructive blaze.
16:28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.
17:4 Wrongdoers listen to wicked talk; liars pay attention to destructive words.
17:9 Disregarding another person’s faults preserves love; telling about them separates close friends
25:23 As surely as a wind from the north brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger!
26:20 Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
18:8/26:22 What dainty morsels rumors are—but they sink deep into one’s heart.
10:18 To hide hatred is to be a liar; to slander is to be a fool.
11:9 Evil words destroy one’s friends; wise discernment rescues the godly.

Eavesdropping/Mocking

Eccles 5:21-22 Don’t eavesdrop on others—you may hear your servant laughing at you. For you know how often you yourself have laughed at others.
Eccles 10:20 Never make light of the king, even in your thoughts. And don’t make fun of a rich man, either. A little bird may tell them what you have said.

Dishonesty

12:17 An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies.
26:18-19 Just as damaging as a mad man shooting a lethal weapon is someone who lies to a friend and then says, "I was only joking."
25:18 Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an ax, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow.
29:12 If a ruler honors (listens to) liars, all his advisers will be wicked.

Honesty

24:26 It is an honor to receive an honest reply.

Bragging

12:23a Wise people don’t make a show of their knowledge...
27:2 Don’t praise yourself; let others do it!
17:19b ... anyone who speaks boastfully invites disaster.

Advice

12:26 The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.
27:5 An open rebuke is better than hidden love!
27:6 Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
27:9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.
10:31 The godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.
10:32 The godly speak words that are helpful, but the wicked speak only what is corrupt.
18:13 What a shame, what folly, to give advice before listening to the facts!

Hurtful Words

12:18a Some people make cutting remarks...
12:16 A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.
29:11 A fool gives full vent to anger, but a wise person quietly holds it back.
15:1b ... harsh words stir up anger.
15:4b a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
17:13 If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house.

Good Words

15:1a A gentle answer turns away wrath...
15:4a Gentle words bring life and health...
12:18b... the words of the wise bring healing.
16:24 Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
31:26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions.
12:25 Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
18:4 A person’s words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.
18:20 Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person’s lips bring satisfaction.
15:31 If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.
15:2 The wise person makes learning a joy; fools spout only foolishness.
20:15 Wise speech is rarer and more valuable than gold and rubies.

Quarreling

17:14 Beginning a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
17:19 Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin...
18:6. Fools get into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating.
26:21 A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
18:7 The mouths of fools are their ruin; their lips get them into trouble.
18:19 It’s harder to make amends with an offended friend than to capture a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with iron bars.
26:17 Yanking a dog’s ears is as foolish as interfering in someone else’s argument.

Nagging

25:24 It is better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a contentious wife in a lovely home.
27:15 A nagging wife is as annoying as the constant dripping on a rainy day.
27:16 Trying to stop her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or hold something with greased hands.

Foolish Talk

Eph 5:4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

Vows

Pro 12:22 The Lord hates those who don’t keep their word, but he delights in those who do.
Eccles 5: 1-6 As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut! Don’t be a fool who doesn’t realize that mindless offerings to God are evil. And don’t make rash promises to God, for he is in heaven, and you are only here on earth. So let your words be few. Just as being too busy gives you nightmares, being a fool makes you a blabbermouth. So when you make a promise to God, don’t delay in following through, for God takes no pleasure in fools. Keep all the promises you make to him. It is better to say nothing than to promise something that you don’t follow through on. In such cases, your mouth is making you sin...7 And there is ruin in a flood of empty words. Fear God instead.

Using The Lord’s Name

Exo 20:7 "Do not misuse (use thoughtlessly NCV) the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.

Final Thoughts

1 Peter 3:10-11 For the Scriptures say, "If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil."

Let’s determine to be like David, who said: You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing amiss, for I Am Determined Not to Sin in What I Say. (Psalm 17:3)

Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 Tyndale House: Wheaton, Ill.