August 16
Job 11-12
Psalm 92:1-7
Proverbs 20:19
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
Blabbermouth
“A gossip betrays a confidence; so, avoid anyone who talks too much.” Proverbs 20:19 NIV
There are 126 Bible verses about the tongue or the mouth. I don’t think there is any other specific topic in the Bible that has more verses. Obviously, God thinks it is important. There are verses in the Old Testament and the New Testament, and they are found in 34 different books. Controlling the tongue was an issue in biblical times and it is still an issue today. Our tongues can get us in a whole lot of trouble. Gossiping, lying, deception, slander, bragging, angry outbursts, cussing, taking the Lord’s name in vain, grumbling and complaining are all ways that our tongues can cause us to sin. The ability to tame our tongue is a sign of spiritual maturity and the inability to do that is an indication of immaturity. I decided I would keep my own words to a minimum today and let God’s Word speak for itself on this issue.
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (HCSB)
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.” Psalm 34:13 (HCSB)
“Lord, set a guard over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3 (HCSB)
“When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19 (HCSB)
“The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who open his lips invites his own ruin.” Proverbs 13:3 (HCSB)
“Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning when he seals his lips.” Proverbs 17:28 (HCSB)
“A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions.” Proverbs 18:2 (HCSB)
“The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” Proverbs 21:23 (HCSB)
“Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down. As charcoal for embers and word for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being. Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel.” Proverbs 26:20-23 (HCSB)
“Do you see a man who speaks too soon? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 29:20 (HCSB)
“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:26 (NIV)
“I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37 (HCSB)
“What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Matthew 15:11 (NIV)
“A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.” Luke 6:45 (HCSB)
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
“But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:16 (ESV)
“If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless, and he deceives himself.” James 1:26 (HCSB)
“Though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by Hell. Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:5-8 (HCSB)
“For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.” I Peter 3:10 (HCSB)
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