38 Bible Verses about Evil Speaking

Wherefore, lay aside all maliciousness, and all guile, and dissimulation, and envy, and all backbiting:

For there are many disobedient and talkers of vanity, and deceivers of minds, namely they of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, which pervert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, because of filthy lucre.

that they speak evil of no man, that they be no fighters, but soft, showing all meekness unto all men.

If any man among you seem devout, and refrain not his tongue: but deceive his own heart, this man's devotion is in vain.

His mouth is full of cursing, deceit and fraud; under his tongue is travail and sorrow.

Hide me from the gathering together of the froward, and from the insurrection of wicked doers, who have whet their tongue like a sword, and shoot out their arrows, even bitter words, That they may privily hurt the innocent, and suddenly hit him without any fear.read more.
They have devised mischief, and communed among themselves how they may lay snares. "Tush," say they, "Who shall see them?"

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.read more.
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.

Backbite not one another, brethren. He that backbiteth his brother, and he that judgeth his brother, backbiteth the law, and judgeth the law: but and if thou judge the law, thou art not an observer of the law: but a judge.

Do ye not remember how that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived. For neither fornicators, neither worshippers of images, neither whoremongers, neither weaklings, neither abusers of themselves with mankind, neither thieves, neither the covetous, neither drunkards, neither cursed speakers, neither extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God.

"Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues they have deceived." "The poison of Asps is under their lips."

Wherefore, put away lying, and speak every man truth unto his neighbor, forasmuch as we are members one of another.

Let no filthy communication proceed out of your mouths: but that which is good to edify withal, when need is, that it may have favour with the hearers. And grieve not the holy spirit of God, by whom ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, fierceness and wrath, roaring and cursed speaking, be put away from you, with all maliciousness.

neither filthiness, neither foolish talking, neither jestings, which are not comely: but rather giving of thanks.

These six things doth the LORD hate, and the seventh he utterly abhorreth: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that goeth about with wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to do mischief,read more.
a false witness that bringeth up lies, and such one as soweth discord among brethren.

With me is the fear of the LORD, and the eschewing of evil. As for pride, disdain, and evil way, and a mouth that speaketh wicked things, I utterly abhor them.

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life; but the mouth of the ungodly is past shame, and presumptuous.

When the just are in wealth, the city prospereth; but when the ungodly have the rule, it decayeth.

The thoughts of the righteous are right; but the imagination of the ungodly are deceitful.

He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his life; but whoso speaketh unadvised, findeth harm.

A faithful witness delivereth souls; but a liar deceiveth them.

A soft answer putteth down displeasure, but froward words provoke anger.

An ungodly person stirreth up evil; and in his lips he is as a hot burning fire.

A wicked body giveth audience to false lips; and a dissembling person giveth ear to a deceitful tongue.

The words of a slanderer are very wounds, and go through unto the inmost parts of the body.

Better is the poor that liveth godly, than the blasphemer that is but a fool.

For their heart imagineth to do hurt, and their lips talk of mischief.

The north wind driveth away the rain, even so doth an earnest sober countenance a backbiter's tongue.

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; and where the backbiter is taken away, there the strife ceaseth. Coals kindle heat, and wood the fire; even so doth a brawling fellow stir up variance. A slanderer's words are like flattery, but they pierce the inward parts of the body.read more.
Venomous lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Mine enemies speak evil upon me, "When shall he die, and his name perish?" And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity, and his heart conceiveth falsehood within himself; and when he cometh forth, he telleth it. All mine enemies whisper together against me; even against me do they imagine this evil.read more.
They have given a wicked sentence upon me, "When he lieth, he shall rise up no more." Yea, even mine own familiar friend, whom I trusted, who did also eat my bread, hath lift up his heel against me.

Thy tongue imagineth wickedness, and with lies it cutteth like a sharp razor. Thou lovest ungraciousness more than good, to talk of lies more than righteousness. Selah. Thou lovest to speak all words that may do hurt, O thou false tongue.

For the sin of their mouth, for the words of their lips, and because of their pride, let them be taken. And why? Their preaching is of cursing and lies.

They that sit in the gate speak against me, and the drunkards make songs upon me.

Let them soon be brought to shame, that cry over me, "There! there!"

Mine enemies revile me all the day long; and they that are mad upon me are sworn together against me.

because they provoked his spirit, so that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.

Princes also sit and speak against me; but thy servant is occupied in thy statutes.

{A song of the stairs} When I am in trouble, I call upon the LORD, and he answereth me. Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue! What reward shall be given or done unto thee, thou false tongue?read more.
Even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals. Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell with Meshech, and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar! My soul hath long dwelt among them that be enemies unto peace. I labour for peace; but when I speak unto them thereof, they make them ready to battle.

They sharpen their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.