Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones [Proverbs 16:24] If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.[1Peter 4:11] All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?"they asked.[Luke 4:22] Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean’, but what comes out of a man’s mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean’ [Matthew 14:10] The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. [Luke 6:45] For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. [1Peter 2:15] For in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge [1Corinthians 1:5] Would a wise man answer with empty notions or fill his belly with the hot east wind? Would he argue with useless words, with speeches that have no value? [Job 15:2-3] Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips. [Ecclesiastes 10:12] With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbour, but through knowledge the righteous escape [Proverbs 11:9]  A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret [Proverbs 11:13] A man who lacks judgement derides his neighbour, but a man of understanding holds his tongue [Proverbs 11:12] The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just. The law of his God is in his heart; his feet do not slip. [Psalm 37:30-31] He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.[Proverbs 13:3] 

 

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.[James 1:19] Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.[Colossians 4:6] 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] As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. [Proverbs 31:24] Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil [Romans 14:16]  Do not be bitter or angry or mad. Never shout angrily or say things to hurt others. [Ephesians 4:31]  But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness. [Hebrews 3:13] Do not pass along untrue reports. Do not cooperate with an evil man by affirming on the witness stand something you know is false.[Exodus 23:1] Telling lies about someone is as harmful as hitting him with an axe, or wounding him with a sword, or shooting him with a sharp arrow.[Proverbs 25:18] Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. [Ephesians 5:4] Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.[ 1Peter 3:9] Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.[Ephesians 4:2] These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts [Zechariah 8:16] Do not go about spreading slander among your people...[ Leviticus 19:16] ... even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”[Jude 9] 

 

We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.[James 3:2-12] 

 “Don’t mistake kindness for weakness” 

"Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you 

not  because they are nice, but because you are."

 

 

 

A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbours deceit. [Proverbs 26:24] A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue[Proverbs 17:4] His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.[Psalms 55:21] His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees.[Psalm 10: 7-11] But now you rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. [James 4:16] They have closed their unfeeling heart, with their mouth they speak proudly.For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned - Matthew 12:37

 

 

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.[Proverbs 10:11] O LORD, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise [Psalm 51:15] My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.[Psalm 35:28] I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done [Romans 15:18] Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.[Job 16:6] as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit. I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.[Job 27:3-6] For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. [Psalm 55:12-13]

 

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. [2Corinthians 10:5] Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him. [Proverbs 29:20] He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbour no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honours those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.[Psalm 15:2-5] My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.[Proverbs 23:15-16] The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?  Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say. [Exodus 4:12] Put the trumpet to your lips! [Hosea 8:1] 

 

... Brothers if you have any message that will encourage the people, please speak. [Acts 13:15] 

 

 

Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should ~Colossians 4:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Be careful of your thoughts, they may become words at any moment”

“Words are some of the most powerful and important things I know . . . Language is the tool of love and the weapon of hatred”

 

 

compiled by leslie marsh may 19 2010