This is a collection of verses from the Bible dealing with the mouth, the tongue, the lips, etc. The Bible says a lot about these things, mainly concerning the importance of guarding our speech. The general rule of thumb seems to be that we should speak less and listen more (Pro.17:27-28; Jas.1:19-20; Pro.10:19), especially when the words we’re listening to are from wise counsel (which, by the way, comes from the Lord). This list is not exhaustive: it is a collection I hope to build over time as I study. These verses are listed in no particular order.

  • Pro.13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but be that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
  • Pro.13:5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
  • Pro.10:19-21 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
  • Pro.17:27-28 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
  • Jas.1:19-20 Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
  • Jas.3:1-10 1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
    2     For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
    3     Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
    4     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 governor listeth.
    5     Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
    6     And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
    7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
    8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
    9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
    10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
  • Pro.10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
  • Pro.11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbor: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
  • Pro.10:11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
  • Pro.10:13-14 13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
  • Pro.12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
  • Pro.14:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
  • Pro.14:23 In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
  • Pro.15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
  • Pro.15:7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
  • Pro.15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
  • Pro15:23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
    (Note the exclamatory nature of this particular verse. I believe there are only a few places in the scriptures where exclamatory statements are made, and this is one of them.)
  • Pro.15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
  • Pro.16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
  • Pro.16:10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
  • Pro.16:13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings: and they love him that speaketh right.
  • Pro.16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
  • Pro.16:23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
  • Pro.16:24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
  • Pro.16:26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
  • Pro.16:27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
  • Pro.16:28 A forward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
  • Pro.16:29-30 A violent man enticeth his neighbor, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
  • Pro.17:4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
  • Pro.17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
  • Pro.17:20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
  • Pro.18:4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
  • Pro.18:6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
  • Pro.18:7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
  • Pro.18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
  • (Pro.18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.)
  • Pro.18:20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
  • Pro.18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
  • Pro.19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
  • Pro.20:15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
  • Pro.20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
  • 1Pe.3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.
  • Pro.21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
  • Pro.22:11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
  • Pro.22:14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
  • Pro.22:17-18 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
  • Pro.23:9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
  • Pro.23:12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
  • Pro.24:1-2 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
  • Pro.24:7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
  • Pro.24:26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
  • Pro.24:28-29 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
  • Pro.25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
  • Pro.25:23 The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
  • Pro.26:7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
  • Pro.26:9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
  • Pro.26:23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
  • Pro.26:24-25 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
  • Pro.26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
  • Pro.27:14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
  • Pro.28:23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.
  • Pro.29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
  • Pro.29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
  • Pro.31:9 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
  • Pro.31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
  • Pro.4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
  • Pro.5:3-6 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.