Luke 6:45
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
45 The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil, for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.(A)
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Ephesians 4:29
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up,[a] as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
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- 4.29 Other ancient authorities read building up faith
Proverbs 4:23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
23 Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.(A)
Matthew 12:34-37
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.(A) 35 The good person brings good things out of a good treasure, and the evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
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John 7:38
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As[a] the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart[b] shall flow rivers of living water.’ ”(A)
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Psalm 37:30-31
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak justice.(A)
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
their steps do not slip.(B)
Colossians 3:16
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
16 Let the word of Christ[a] dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.[b](A)
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Psalm 59:12
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,(A)
Proverbs 12:18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(A)
James 3:5-8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a such a small fire!(A) 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of life, and is itself set on fire by hell.[a](B) 7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, 8 but no one can tame the tongue—a restless[b] evil, full of deadly poison.(C)
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Psalm 52:2-4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
2 you are plotting destruction.
Your tongue is like a sharp razor,
you worker of treachery.(A)
3 You love evil more than good
and lying more than speaking the truth. Selah(B)
4 You love all words that devour,
O deceitful tongue.(C)
Colossians 4:6
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.(A)
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Romans 3:13-14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
13 “Their throats are opened graves;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of vipers is under their lips.”(A)
14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
Proverbs 10:20-21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
the mind of the wicked is of little worth.(A)
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
Psalm 12:2-4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
2 They utter lies to each other;
with flattering lips and a deceitful heart they speak.(A)
3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,(B)
4 those who say, “With our tongues we will prevail;
our lips are our own—who is our master?”
Hebrews 8:10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
10 This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.(A)
Ephesians 5:3-4
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Renounce Pagan Ways
3 But sexual immorality and impurity of any kind or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.(A) 4 Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving.
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Acts 8:19-23
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19 saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money!(A) 21 You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God.(B) 22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.”(C)
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Jeremiah 9:2-5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
2 [a]O that I had in the desert
a traveler’s lodging place,
that I might leave my people
and go away from them!
For they are all adulterers,
a band of traitors.(A)
3 They bend their tongues like bows;
they have grown strong in the land for falsehood and not for truth,
for they proceed from evil to evil,
and they do not know me, says the Lord.(B)
4 Beware of your neighbors,
and put no trust in any of your kin,
for all your kin are supplanters,
and every neighbor goes around like a slanderer.(C)
5 They all deceive their neighbors,
and no one speaks the truth;
they have taught their tongues to speak lies;
they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent.[b](D)
Psalm 41:6-7
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
6 And when they come to see me, they utter empty words
while their hearts gather mischief;
when they go out, they tell it abroad.(A)
7 All who hate me whisper together about me;
they imagine the worst for me.(B)
Psalm 40:8-10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”(A)
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
see, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.(B)
10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.(C)
Ephesians 5:19
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,(A)
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Psalm 140:5
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
and with cords they have spread a net,[a]
along the road they have set snares for me. Selah(A)
Footnotes
- 140.5 Or they have spread cords as a net
Psalm 71:15-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all day long,
though their number is past my knowledge.(A)
16 I will come praising the mighty deeds of the Lord God;
I will praise your righteousness, yours alone.(B)
17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.(C)
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might
to all the generations to come.[a]
Your power(D)
Footnotes
- 71.18 Gk Compare Syr: Heb to a generation, to all who come
Psalm 64:3-8
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 who whet their tongues like swords,
who aim bitter words like arrows,(A)
4 shooting from ambush at the blameless;
they shoot suddenly and without fear.(B)
5 They hold fast to their evil purpose;
they talk of laying snares secretly,
thinking, “Who can see us?[a](C)
6 Who can search out our crimes?[b]
We have thought out a cunningly conceived plot.”
For the human heart and mind are deep.(D)
7 But God will shoot his arrow at them;
they will be wounded suddenly.
8 Because of their tongue he will bring them to ruin;[c]
all who see them will shake with horror.(E)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.