Tongue

Jesus On The Tongue

Matthew 12 (New King James Version)

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Luke 6 (English Standard Version)

45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

The Tongue In The New Testament

Acts 2 (King James Version)

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Acts 17 (English Standard Version)

21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

1 Corinthians 13 (English Standard Version)

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

1 Corinthians 14 (New International Version)

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue...23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"...26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

Romans 14 (New International Version)

11 It is written:
" 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord,
'every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will confess to God.' "

Ephesians 4 (English Standard Version)

29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Philippians 2 (New International Version)

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 4 (English Standard Version)

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

James 1 (New International Version)

26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

James 3 (New International Version)

5 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. 6 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.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

The Tongue In The Old Testament

Exodus 4 (English Standard Version)

10 But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue."

Job 5 (English Standard Version)

21 You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue,
and shall not fear destruction when it comes.

Psalm 12 (English Standard Version)

3 May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
the tongue that makes great boasts,

Psalm 15 (New International Version)

2 He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
3 and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
4 who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
5 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 31 (English Standard Version)

20 In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
from the strife of tongues.

Psalm 34 (New International Version)

12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 37 (New International Version)

30 The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks what is just.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
his feet do not slip.

Psalm 39 (New International Version)

1 I said, "I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked are in my presence."
2 But when I was silent and still,
not even saying anything good,
my anguish increased.
3 My heart grew hot within me,
and as I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:

Psalm 45 (English Standard Version)

1 My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

Psalm 51 (English Standard Version)

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
O God of my salvation,
and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

Psalm 52 (English Standard Version)

4 You love all words that devour,
O deceitful tongue.

Psalm 73 (English Standard Version)

9 They set their mouths against the heavens,
and their tongue struts through the earth.

Psalm 126 (English Standard Version)

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."

Psalm 139 (New International Version)

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

Psalm 140 (English Standard Version)

1 Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men;
preserve me from violent men,
2 who plan evil things in their heart
and stir up wars continually.
3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s,
and under their lips is the venom of asps.

Proverbs 6 (New International Version)

12 A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth...16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers

Proverbs 10 (New International Version)

18 He who conceals his hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of judgment.

Proverbs 12 (New International Version)

18 Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 15 (New International Version)

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly...4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 16 (English Standard Version)

21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

Proverbs 17 (English Standard Version)

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

Proverbs 18 (English Standard Version)

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

Proverbs 21 (New International Version)

23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.

Proverbs 25 (New International Version)

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Proverbs 26 (New International Version)

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 28 (New International Version)

23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering tongue.

Hosea 7 (English Standard Version)

16 They return, but not upward;
they are like a treacherous bow;
their princes shall fall by the sword
because of the insolence of their tongue.
This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.


Scripture contributions for June 2008 by: Paul Anderson, Colorado Springs CO USA; Matthew Anderson, Colorado Springs CO USA; Shirley Blacklock, North Platte NE USA; Linda Anderson, Colorado Springs CO USA