The Discipline of the Tongue Resources

68 Select Proverbs Regarding the Use of the Tongue

1. Proverbs 10:11

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

2. Proverbs 10:18

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

3. Proverbs 10:19

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

4. Proverbs 10:20

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

5. Proverbs 10:21

The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

6. Proverbs 10:31

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

7. Proverbs 10:32

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

8. Proverbs 11:9

With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

9. Proverbs 11:11

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

10. Proverbs 11:12

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.

11. Proverbs 11:13

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

12. Proverbs 12:6

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

13. Proverbs 12:19

Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

14. Proverbs 12:22

Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

15. Proverbs 13:3

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

16. Proverbs 14:3

By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

17. Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

18. Proverbs 15:2

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

19. Proverbs 15:4

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

20. Proverbs 15:7

The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

21. Proverbs 15:14

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

22. Proverbs 15:23

To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!

23. Proverbs 15:28

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

24. Proverbs 16:1

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.

25. Proverbs 16:13

Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.

26. Proverbs 16:23

The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

27. Proverbs 16:24

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

28. Proverbs 16:27

A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

29. Proverbs 16:28

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

30. Proverbs 17:4

An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

31. Proverbs 17:7

Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.

32. Proverbs 17:9

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

33. Proverbs 17:20

A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

34. Proverbs 17:27

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

35. Proverbs 17:28

Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

36. Proverbs 18:2

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

37. Proverbs 18:4

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

38. Proverbs 18:6

A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.

39. Proverbs 18:7

A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

40. Proverbs 18:8

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

41. Proverbs 18:13

If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

42. Proverbs 18:20

From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

43. Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

44. Proverbs 19:1

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

45. Proverbs 19:5

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

46. Proverbs 19:28

A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

47. Proverbs 20:15

There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

48. Proverbs 20:19

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

49. Proverbs 21:6

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.

50. Proverbs 21:23

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

51. Proverbs 21:28

A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure.

52. Proverbs 23:9

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.

53. Proverbs 24:1–2

Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.

54. Proverbs 24:26

Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.

55. Proverbs 24:28

Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

56. Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

57. Proverbs 25:15

With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

58. Proverbs 25:23

The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

59. Proverbs 26:2

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.

60. Proverbs 26:7

Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

61. Proverbs 26:9

Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

62. Proverbs 26:20

For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

63. Proverbs 26:22

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

64. Proverbs 26:23

Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.

65. Proverbs 26:24–25

Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.

66. Proverbs 29:20

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

67. Proverbs 30:11–12

There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers. There are those who are clean in their own eyes but are not washed of their filth.

68. Proverbs 31:26

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.


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