James 1:26
New Living Translation
26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
Read full chapter
James 1:26
New International Version
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues(A) deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
Psalm 141:3
New Living Translation
3 Take control of what I say, O Lord,
and guard my lips.
Psalm 141:3
New International Version
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.
Read full chapter
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.
1 Peter 3:10
New Living Translation
10 For the Scriptures say,
“If you want to enjoy life
and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies.
1 Peter 3:10
New International Version
10 For,
“Whoever would love life
and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
and their lips from deceitful speech.
Proverbs 19:1
New Living Translation
19 Better to be poor and honest
than to be dishonest and a fool.
Proverbs 19:1
New International Version
19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)
Ephesians 5:4
New Living Translation
4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
Read full chapter
Ephesians 5:4
New International Version
4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk(A) or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.(B)
Psalm 34:13
New Living Translation
13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies!
Psalm 34:13
New International Version
Proverbs 10:31
New Living Translation
31 The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice,
but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.
Proverbs 10:31
New International Version
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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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)
Proverbs 10:19
New Living Translation
19 Too much talk leads to sin.
Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
Proverbs 10:19
New International Version
19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
but the prudent hold their tongues.(A)
James 1:22
New Living Translation
22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
Read full chapter
James 1:22
New International Version
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.(A)
Luke 8:18
New Living Translation
18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.”
Read full chapter
Luke 8:18
New International Version
18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”(A)
James 3:2-6
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]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 3:6 Or for it will burn in hell (Greek Gehenna).
James 3:2-6
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)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.