57 Bible Verses about Restraint
Most Relevant Verses
Then said Jesus unto him, "Put up thy sword into his sheath. For all they that lay hands on the sword, shall perish with the sword. Either thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my father, and he shall give me more than twelve legions of angels?
And then Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the host, saying, "See that neither man nor woman prepare any more work for the holy heave offering." And so the people were forbidden to bring:
For I have told him that I will judge his house forever. For the wickedness which he knoweth, how his sons are ungracious, and he was not wroth therewith.
Then Saul was come again from the Philistines, it was told him, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi." Then Saul took three thousand men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men in the rocks, where nothing haunted but wild goats. And he came to the flocks of the sheep by a wayside where was a cave. And Saul went in to cover his feet. And David and his men sat along by the sides of the cave.read more.
And the men of David said unto him, "See, the day is come of which the LORD said unto thee, 'Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, and thou shalt do with him what it pleaseth thee.'" Then David arose and cut off the tip of Saul's coat privily. And immediately David's heart smote him, because he had cut off the tip of Saul's coat. And he said unto his men, "The LORD keep me from doing that thing unto my master that is the LORD's anointed, to lay mine hand upon him: seeing he is the LORD's anointed." And so David kept off his servants with words, and suffered them not to go upon Saul. And when Saul was up out of the cave and gone away, David arose and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, "My lord king!" And Saul looked behind him. And David stooped to the earth and bowed himself, and said to Saul, "Wherefore giveth thou an ear to men's words, that say, 'David seeketh thee evil?' Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee this day into mine hand, in the cave. When they bade kill thee, mine eye had compassion on thee: and I said, 'I will not lay my hands on my master, for he is the LORD's anointed.' And moreover my father, see yet the tip of thy coat in my hand. And inasmuch as I killed thee not too, when I cut off the tip of thy coat; understand and see that there is neither evil nor rebelliousness in me, and that I have not sinned against thee. And yet thou huntest after my soul to take it. The LORD be judge between thee and me, and the LORD avenge me of thee. But mine hand be not upon thee. According to the old proverb, wickedness shall proceed out of the wicked: But mine hand be not upon thee. After whom art thou come out, thou king of Israel? After whom chasest thou? Even after a dead dog, and after a flea! The LORD be judge, and judge between thee and me, and see and plead my cause, and judge me free out of thine hand." When David had made an end of speaking all these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this thy voice, my son David?" And he lifted up his voice and wept, and said to David, "Thou art more righteous than I, for thou hast rewarded me with good, and I have rewarded thee with evil. And thou hast showed this day how that thou hast dealt lovingly with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had locked me in thine hands, thou slewest me not. For who shall find his enemy, and let him depart a good way? Wherefore the LORD reward thee with good, for that thou hast done unto me this day. And now I know well that thou shalt be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. Swear therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou shalt not destroy my seed after me, and that thou shalt not destroy my name out of my father's house." And David sware unto Saul, and Saul went home. But David and his men gat up unto a hold.
After that came the Ziphites unto Saul to Gibeah saying, "David hideth himself in the hill of Hachilah even before the wilderness." Then Saul arose and went to the wilderness of Ziph, and three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, for to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah which lieth before the wilderness, by the wayside. But David dwelt in the wilderness. And when he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness,read more.
he sent out spies and understood that Saul was come of surety. Wherefore David arose and went to the place where Saul had pitched, and beheld the place where Saul lay with Abner the son of Ner his chief captain. For Saul lay within a round bank and the people pitched round about him. Then answered David, and spake to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah and brother to Joab, saying, "Who will go down with me to Saul, to the host?" Abishai said, "I will go down with thee." And so David and Abishai came to the people by night. And behold, Saul lay sleeping within a round bank and his spear pitched in the ground at his head, Abner and the people lying round about him. The said Abishai to David, "God hath closed in thine enemy unto thine hand this day. Now therefore let me smite him a fellowship with my spear to the earth, even one stroke, and I will not smite him the second time." But David said to Abishai, "Destroy him not - for who can lay his hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?" And David said furthermore, "As sure as the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall descend into battle and there perish: but the LORD keep me from laying mine hand upon the LORD's anointed. Now then take a fellowship the spear that is at his head, and the cruse of water, and let us go." And David took the spear and the cruse of water that were at Saul's head, and they gat them away, and no man saw or wist it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because the LORD had sent a slumber upon them. Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of a hill afar off - a great space being between them - and cried to the people and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Answerest thou not Abner?" And Abner answered, and said, "What art thou that criest to the king?" And David said to Abner, "Art not thou a man? And who is like thee in Israel? But wherefore hast thou not kept thy lord the king? For there came one of the folk to destroy the king thy lord. It is not good that thou hast done. As truly as the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have no better kept the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is and the cruse of water that were at his head." Then Saul knew David's voice and said, "Is this thy voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord king." And he said thereto, "Wherefore doth my lord persecute his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in mine hand? Now hear therefore, my lord king, the words of thy servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, he shall smell the savour of sacrifice. But and if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD. For they have cast me out from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, 'Hence and go serve other gods.' And yet I hope my blood shall not fall to the earth before the face of the LORD, though the king of Israel be come out to hunt a flea, as men hunt the partridges in the mountains." Then said Saul, "I have sinned. Come again, my son David, for I will do thee no more harm; because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have erred exceeding much." And David answered and said, "Behold the king's spear: let one of the young men come over and fetch it. The LORD reward every man's righteousness and faith: for the LORD delivered thee into my hand this day, but I would not lay my hand upon the LORD's anointed. And as thy life was much set by this time in mine eyes: so be my life set by in the eyes of the LORD, that he deliver me out of all tribulation." And Saul said to David, "Blessed art thou, my son David: for thou shalt be a doer and prevail." And so David went his way, and Saul turned to his place again.
And his father rebuked him not at any time, nor said so much to him as "Why dost thou so?" And he was thereto a goodly man and his mother bare him next, after Absalom.
Then spake the LORD, concerning this people that have pleasure to go so nimbly with their feet, and leave not off, and therefore displease the LORD; insomuch that he will now bring again to remembrance all their misdeeds, and punish all their sins.
but was rebuked of his iniquity. The tame and dumb beast, speaking with man's voice forbade the foolishness of the prophet.
For hereunto verily were ye called, for Christ also suffered for us: leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps, which did no sin, neither was there guile found in his mouth: which when he was reviled, reviled not again: when he suffered, he threatened not: but committed the cause to him that judgeth righteously,
And the chief priest arose, and said to him, "Answerest thou nothing? How is it that these bear witness against thee?" But Jesus held his peace. And the chief priest answered, and said to him, "I charge thee in the name of the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be Christ the son of God."
And the highest priest stood up amongst them all, and asked Jesus saying, "Answerest thou nothing? How is it that these bear witness against thee?" And he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the highest priest asked him, and said unto him, "Art thou the Christ, the son of the blessed?"
And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, "Hearest thou not how many things they lay against thee?" And he answered him to never a word: insomuch that the deputy marveled greatly.
Wherefore, Pilate asked him again, saying, "Answerest thou nothing? Behold how many things they lay unto thy charge." Jesus yet answered never a word, so that Pilate marveled.
When now Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, the LORD carried away the sea with a strong east wind that blew all night, and made the sea dry land and the water divided itself.
With the breath of thine anger the water gathered together and the floods stood still as a rock, and the deep water congealed together in the midst of the sea.
He divided the sea, and let them go through it; and made the waters to stand in a heap.
And he entered into a ship, and his Disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with waves, and he was asleep. And his Disciples came unto him, and awoke him, saying, "Master, save us: we perish."read more.
And he said unto them, "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?" Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there followed a great calm. And the men marveled and said, "What man is this, that both winds and sea obey him?"
And they left the people, and took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and dashed the waves into the ship, so that it was full. And he was in the stern asleep on a pillow. And they awoke him, and said to him, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?"read more.
And he rose up and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, "Peace and be still." And the wind allayed, and there followed a great calm: and he said unto them, "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, "What fellow is this? For both wind and sea obey him."
And it chanced on a certain day that he went into a ship, and his disciples also, and he said unto them, "Let us go over unto the other side of the lake." And they launched forth. And as they sailed, he fell asleep. And there arose a storm of wind in the lake, and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they went to him and awoke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are lost." Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the tempest of water: and they ceased, and it waxed calm.read more.
And he said unto them, "Where is your faith?" They feared and wondered, saying one to another, "What fellow is this? For he commandeth both the winds and water, and they obey him!"
And except that the Lord had should shorten those days, no man should be saved. But for the elects' sake, which he hath chosen, he hath shortened those days.
Yea, and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: But for the chosens' sake, those days shall be shortened.
And because thou settest up thy bristles against me, and that thy raging is come up to mine ears: therefore I will put a ring in thy nose and a bit in thy lips, and will bring thee back again the same way thou camest.
The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise; and the fierceness of them shalt thou refrain.
And now ye know what withholdeth: even that he might be uttered at his time. For the mystery of that iniquity doth he already work, which only looketh, till he be taken out of the way
And he took the dragon, that old serpent which is the devil and Satan, and he bound him a thousand years:
I desire not that thou shouldest take them out of the world: but that thou keep them from evil.
And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD that hath judged the cause of my rebuke of the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil, and hath turned the wickedness of Nabal again upon his own head." And David sent to commune with Abigail, to the intent to take her to his wife.
But Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, "If thou shalt bless me, and enlarge my coasts, and shalt let thine hand be with me, and wilt keep me from evil that it vex me not." And God sent him his desire.
Keep thy servant also from presumptuous sins, lest they get dominion over me: so shall I be undefiled and innocent from the great offense.
The angel of the LORD pitcheth his tent round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
Lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
And forgive us our sins: For even we forgive every man that trespasseth us, and lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil. Amen."
saying, "Hurt not the earth neither the sea, neither the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
But he was so merciful, that he forgave their misdeeds, and destroyed them not. Yea, many a time turned he his wrath away, and would not suffer his whole displeasure to arise.
And when the LORD walked before him, he cried, "LORD, LORD God full of compassion and mercy, which art not lightly angry but abundant in mercy and truth,
'The LORD is long yer he be angry, and full of mercy, and suffereth sin and trespass, and leaveth no man innocent, and visiteth the unrighteousness of the fathers upon the children, even upon the third and fourth generation.'
and refused to hear, and were not mindful of the wonders that thou didst for them: but became obstinate and heady insomuch that they turned back to their bondage in their disobedience. But thou, my God, forgavest, and wast gracious, merciful, patient, and of great goodness, and forsookest them not.
Why withdrawest thou thy hand? Why pluckest thou not thy righthand out of thy bosom, to consume thy enemies?
But thou, O LORD God, art full of compassion and mercy, longsuffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.
Nevertheless, for my name's sake, I have withdrawn my wrath, and for mine honour's sake I have overseen thee, so that I have not rooted thee out.
And tear your hearts and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God. For he is full of mercy and compassion, long ere he be angry, and great in mercy and repentance when he is at the point to punish.
And he prayed unto the LORD and said, "O LORD, was not this my saying when I was yet in my country? And therefore I hasted rather to flee to Tarshish: for I knew well enough that thou wast a merciful god, full of compassion long before thou be angry, and of great mercy and repentest when thou art come to take punishment.
The Lord is not slack to fulfill his promise as some men count slackness: but is patient to us ward and would have no man lost, but would receive all men to repentance.
If any man among you seem devout, and refrain not his tongue: but deceive his own heart, this man's devotion is in vain.
{To the Chanter, for praising, a Psalm of David} I said, "I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not in my tongue. I will keep my mouth as it were with a bridle, while the ungodly is in my sight."
He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his life; but whoso speaketh unadvised, findeth harm.
For in many things we sin all. If a man sin not in word, the same is a perfect man and able to tame all the body. Behold, we put bits into the horses' mouths that they should obey us, and we turn about all the body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the violence of the governor will:read more.
even so the tongue is little member and boasteth great things. Behold how great a thing a little fire kindleth, and the tongue is fire, and a world of wickedness. So is the tongue set among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth afire all that we have of nature, and is itself set afire, even of hell. All the natures of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and things of the sea, are meeked and tamed of the nature of man. But the tongue can no man tame. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God the father, and therewith curse we men which are made after the similitude of God. Out of one mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at one place sweet water, and bitter also? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries: or a vine bear figs? So can no fountain give both salt water and fresh also.
If any man long after life, and loveth to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips, that they speak not guile:
Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding, whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle, if they will not obey thee.
Let not sin reign therefore in your mortal bodies, that ye should thereunto obey in the lusts of it.
From Thematic Bible
Seals » Illustrative of » Restraint
and cast him into the bottomless pit, and he bound him, and set a seal on him, that he should deceive the people no more, till the thousand years were fulfilled. And after that he must be loosed for a little season.
He commandeth the sun, and it riseth not: he closeth up the stars, as it were under a signet.
Topics on Restraint
Divine Restraints
Proverbs 29:18Where no Prophet is, there the people perish; but well is him that keepeth the law.
Restraints From Killing
Genesis 4:15And the LORD said unto him, "Not so, but whosoever slayeth Cain shall be punished sevenfold." And the LORD put a mark upon Cain that no man that found him should kill him.