Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Psalms 34:13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Proverbs 16:27-28An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Colossians 3:8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Ephesians 5:4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Proverbs 10:18He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
James 3:5-10Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a…
Exodus 20:7Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Proverbs 20:19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Proverbs 26:20-23Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so…
Luke 6:28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
James 1:26If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Romans 12:14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Leviticus 19:16Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.
James 5:12But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your…
Titus 3:1-2Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no…
Matthew 5:37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
2 Corinthians 12:20For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates…
1 Timothy 5:13And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which…
James 4:11-12Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the…
Proverbs 18:8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Exodus 23:1Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Job 5:21Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
Psalms 15:1-3[A Psalm of David.] LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness…
Psalms 50:20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son.
Psalms 101:5Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Psalms 109:2For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
Proverbs 25:23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Jeremiah 6:28They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
Jeremiah 9:4Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with…
Ezekiel 22:9In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.
Romans 1:29-30Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity…
Ephesians 4:31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
1 Peter 2:1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 Peter 2:10But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid…
Psalms 109:20Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
Jeremiah 20:10For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying…
Romans 3:8And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.
2 Corinthians 6:8By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
1 Timothy 3:11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Matthew 12:34-37O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the…
Proverbs 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Psalms 141:3Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Psalms 10:7-8His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the…
Psalms 59:12For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.
Proverbs 15:1-2A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out…
Romans 3:13-14Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing…
Colossians 4:6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Exodus 22:28Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Leviticus 24:23And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the…
Job 16:3-4Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I…
Job 16:5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief.
Job 27:4My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.
Job 38:2Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Psalms 12:3-4The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are…
Psalms 19:14Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
Psalms 39:1[To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.] I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth…
Psalms 41:5-9Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to…
Psalms 52:2-4Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak…
Psalms 64:2-5Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their…
Psalms 69:12They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
Psalms 69:26For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
Psalms 77:12I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Psalms 106:33Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
Psalms 109:17-18As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him. As he clothed himself with cursing like as…
Psalms 119:13With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
Psalms 119:23Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.
Psalms 119:27Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
Psalms 119:172My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
Psalms 120:1-7[A Song of degrees.] In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me. Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.…
Psalms 140:11Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
Psalms 145:5-7I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will…
Psalms 145:11-12They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of…
Proverbs 4:24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Proverbs 6:16-19These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An…
Proverbs 8:13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 10:11The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 10:13In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
Proverbs 10:14Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
Proverbs 10:19-21In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of…
Proverbs 10:31-32The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the…
Proverbs 11:11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 12:5-6The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the…
Proverbs 12:13The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
Proverbs 12:14A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
Proverbs 12:16-20A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame. He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.…
Proverbs 13:2-3A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but…
Proverbs 14:3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Proverbs 14:25A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
Proverbs 15:4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
Proverbs 15:7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
Proverbs 15:14The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
Proverbs 15:23A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Proverbs 15:26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
Proverbs 15:28The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Proverbs 16:21-24The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that…
Proverbs 17:4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Proverbs 17:7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Proverbs 17:20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Proverbs 17:27-28He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted…
Proverbs 18:4The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
Proverbs 18:6-7A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Proverbs 18:20A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Proverbs 19:1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Proverbs 19:28An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
Proverbs 20:15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Proverbs 21:23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Proverbs 22:11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
Proverbs 24:2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
Proverbs 25:11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Proverbs 25:15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Proverbs 26:7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Proverbs 29:20Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Proverbs 30:10Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
Proverbs 31:26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Ecclesiastes 3:7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
Ecclesiastes 5:3For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
Ecclesiastes 5:7For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
Ecclesiastes 7:22For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
Ecclesiastes 9:17The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.
Ecclesiastes 10:12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Ecclesiastes 10:13-14The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot…
Ecclesiastes 10:20Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath…
Ecclesiastes 12:9-11And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many…
Isaiah 6:5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have…
Isaiah 32:6-7For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty…
Zephaniah 3:13The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie…
Zechariah 8:16These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
Matthew 15:11Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Matthew 23:16Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he…
Acts 23:5Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
Ephesians 4:25Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Titus 1:10-11For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses…
James 1:19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 3:2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
1 Peter 2:12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall…
1 Peter 3:9-10Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a…
1 Peter 3:15-16But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with…
Jude 1:8-10Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with…
Revelation 14:5And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
28 more verses that touch on it
Proverbs 11:12-14He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a…
Luke 6:45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth…
Deuteronomy 19:16-21If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall…
1 Samuel 24:9And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men’s words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
Psalms 35:11False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.
Psalms 38:12They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.
Psalms 109:3They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
Proverbs 11:9An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
Proverbs 17:9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Matthew 5:11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
1 Corinthians 4:13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
Titus 2:3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
Exodus 20:16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Deuteronomy 5:20Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Proverbs 25:18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Matthew 15:19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
1 Corinthians 6:10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Timothy 5:11But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry;
Deuteronomy 5:11Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Job 13:5O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
Proverbs 12:23A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Proverbs 18:13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
Proverbs 26:4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Proverbs 26:5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
Proverbs 29:11A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Ecclesiastes 10:11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Matthew 5:22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his…
James 3:13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Every verse is the King James Version, word for word. They are gathered from two topic books, Nave's Topical Bible (1896) and Torrey's New Topical Textbook (1897); the most loved come first, from readers' votes on OpenBible.info and the lists of the big Bible sites.
Questions people ask.
What does the Bible say about gossip and bad words?
The Bible speaks to gossip and bad words in verses such as Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers”, and Psalms 34:13, “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile” (King James Version).
Which Bible verses about gossip and bad words are most loved?
Among the most loved is Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Others are Psalms 34:13, Proverbs 16:28 and Colossians 3:8.