'Words' in the Bible

“Is there no limit to windy words?Or what plagues you that you answer?

“I too could speak like you,If I were in your place.I could compose words against youAnd shake my head at you.

“How long will you hunt for words?Show understanding and then we can talk.

“How long will you torment meAnd crush me with words?

“Oh that my words were written!Oh that they were inscribed in a book!

“Please receive instruction from His mouthAnd establish His words in your heart.

“I would learn the words which He would answer,And perceive what He would say to me.

“I have not departed from the command of His lips;I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

“To whom have you uttered words?And whose spirit was expressed through you?

“After my words they did not speak again,And my speech dropped on them.

Let briars grow instead of wheat,And stinkweed instead of barley.”The words of Job are ended.

“Behold, I waited for your words,I listened to your reasonings,While you pondered what to say.

“I even paid close attention to you;Indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,Not one of you who answered his words.

“For he has not arranged his words against me,Nor will I reply to him with your arguments.

“They are dismayed, they no longer answer;Words have failed them.

“For I am full of words;The spirit within me constrains me.

“However now, Job, please hear my speech,And listen to all my words.

“My words are from the uprightness of my heart,And my lips speak knowledge sincerely.

“Surely you have spoken in my hearing,And I have heard the sound of your words:

“Hear my words, you wise men,And listen to me, you who know.

“For the ear tests wordsAs the palate tastes food.

“But if you have understanding, hear this;Listen to the sound of my words.

‘Job speaks without knowledge,And his words are without wisdom.

‘For he adds rebellion to his sin;He claps his hands among us,And multiplies his words against God.’”

So Job opens his mouth emptily;He multiplies words without knowledge.”

“For truly my words are not false;One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

“Who is this that darkens counselBy words without knowledge?

“Will he make many supplications to you,Or will he speak to you soft words?

It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.

For the choir director; for flute accompaniment. A Psalm of David.Give ear to my words, O Lord,Consider my groaning.

The words of the Lord are pure words;As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who spoke to the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said,“I love You, O Lord, my strength.”

There is no speech, nor are there words;Their voice is not heard.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartBe acceptable in Your sight,O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David.My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

For they do not speak peace,But they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.

The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit;He has ceased to be wise and to do good.

This is the way of those who are foolish,And of those after them who approve their words. Selah.

“For you hate discipline,And you cast My words behind you.

You love all words that devour,O deceitful tongue.

Hear my prayer, O God;Give ear to the words of my mouth.

His speech was smoother than butter,But his heart was war;His words were softer than oil,Yet they were drawn swords.

All day long they distort my words;All their thoughts are against me for evil.

On account of the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,Let them even be caught in their pride,And on account of curses and lies which they utter.

A Maskil of Asaph.Listen, O my people, to my instruction;Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

They pour forth words, they speak arrogantly;All who do wickedness vaunt themselves.

He sent darkness and made it dark;And they did not rebel against His words.

Then they believed His words;They sang His praise.

Because they had rebelled against the words of GodAnd spurned the counsel of the Most High.

They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,And fought against me without cause.

Heth.The Lord is my portion;I have promised to keep Your words.

How sweet are Your words to my taste!Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

The unfolding of Your words gives light;It gives understanding to the simple.

My zeal has consumed me,Because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.

I rise before dawn and cry for help;I wait for Your words.

Shin.Princes persecute me without cause,But my heart stands in awe of Your words.

All the kings of the earth will give thanks to You, O Lord,When they have heard the words of Your mouth.

Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock,And they hear my words, for they are pleasant.

He declares His words to Jacob,His statutes and His ordinances to Israel.

To understand a proverb and a figure,The words of the wise and their riddles.

“Turn to my reproof,Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you;I will make my words known to you.

To deliver you from the strange woman,From the adulteress who flatters with her words;

Then he taught me and said to me,“Let your heart hold fast my words;Keep my commandments and live;

Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

My son, give attention to my words;Incline your ear to my sayings.

Now then, my sons, listen to meAnd do not depart from the words of my mouth.

If you have been snared with the words of your mouth,Have been caught with the words of your mouth,

My son, keep my wordsAnd treasure my commandments within you.

That they may keep you from an adulteress,From the foreigner who flatters with her words.

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,And pay attention to the words of my mouth.

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,But he who restrains his lips is wise.

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words,And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.

Leave the presence of a fool,Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,But pleasant words are pure.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

A worthless man digs up evil,While his words are like scorching fire.

He who restrains his words has knowledge,And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

All the brothers of a poor man hate him;How much more do his friends abandon him!He pursues them with words, but they are gone.

Cease listening, my son, to discipline,And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,But He overthrows the words of the treacherous man.

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,And apply your mind to my knowledge;

To make you know the certainty of the words of truthThat you may correctly answer him who sent you?

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Apply your heart to disciplineAnd your ears to words of knowledge.

The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

A slave will not be instructed by words alone;For though he understands, there will be no response.

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle.The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

Do not add to His wordsOr He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.

The words of King Lemuel, the oracle which his mother taught him:

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.

Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.

For the dream comes through much effort and the voice of a fool through many words.

For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear God.

For there are many words which increase futility. What then is the advantage to a man?

Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you.

So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded.