I recently pulled together passages of scripture that had to do with words. It was a salutary exercise just to read them through so let me share them with you.
Proverbs 11:9 — “With their words, the godless destroy their friends…”
Proverbs 11:12 — “It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.”
Proverbs 15:4 — “Wholesome words are a tree of life (= life-giving influence); a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”
Proverbs 16:24 — “Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”
Proverbs 18:21 — “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” (good or bad)
Proverbs 12:18 — “Careless words stab like a sword, but wise words bring healing.”
Now in the words of Jesus from Matthew 12:33-37 (NIV)
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Colossians 4:6 (NIV)
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)
“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.”
With these truths in mind, here’s an appropriate prayer David prayed that we would do well to pray: Psalm 141:3 — “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
