Ephesians 4:29
New Living Translation
29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
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Ephesians 4:29
New International Version
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,(A) but only what is helpful for building others up(B) according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Colossians 4:6
New Living Translation
6 Let your conversation be gracious and attractive[a] so that you will have the right response for everyone.
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- 4:6 Greek and seasoned with salt.
Colossians 4:6
New International Version
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace,(A) seasoned with salt,(B) so that you may know how to answer everyone.(C)
1 Thessalonians 5:11
New Living Translation
11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
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1 Thessalonians 5:11
New International Version
Ecclesiastes 10:12
New Living Translation
12 Wise words bring approval,
but fools are destroyed by their own words.
Ecclesiastes 10:12
New International Version
Colossians 3:8-9
New Living Translation
8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
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Proverbs 15:7
New Living Translation
7 The lips of the wise give good advice;
the heart of a fool has none to give.
Proverbs 15:7
New International Version
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(A)
but the hearts of fools are not upright.
Proverbs 25:11-12
New Living Translation
11 Timely advice is lovely,
like golden apples in a silver basket.
12 To one who listens, valid criticism
is like a gold earring or other gold jewelry.
Proverbs 25:11-12
New International Version
Matthew 12:34-37
New Living Translation
34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
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Matthew 12:34-37
New International Version
34 You brood of vipers,(A) how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks(B) what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”(C)
Psalm 37:30-31
New Living Translation
30 The godly offer good counsel;
they teach right from wrong.
31 They have made God’s law their own,
so they will never slip from his path.
Psalm 37:30-31
New International Version
James 3:2-8
New Living Translation
2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.[a]
7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
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- 3:6 Or for it will burn in hell (Greek Gehenna).
James 3:2-8
New International Version
2 We all stumble(A) in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say(B) is perfect,(C) able to keep their whole body in check.(D)
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.(E) 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.(F) Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire,(G) a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body,(H) sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.(I)
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.(J)
Proverbs 15:2-4
New Living Translation
2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing,
but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.
3 The Lord is watching everywhere,
keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.
4 Gentle words are a tree of life;
a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:2-4
New International Version
Colossians 3:16-17
New Living Translation
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
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Colossians 3:16-17
New International Version
16 Let the message of Christ(A) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom(B) through psalms,(C) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.(D) 17 And whatever you do,(E) whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks(F) to God the Father through him.
Ephesians 5:3-4
New Living Translation
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
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Ephesians 5:3-4
New International Version
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,(A) or of any kind of impurity, or of greed,(B) because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(C) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(D)
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