How To Talk (as a Christian)

Proverbs 16:23 “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.”

15:28 “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.”

(Matthew 12:33-37 “. . . out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”)

10:11 “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life. . . .” (You can get something good from a well!)

15:4 “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life. . . .” (You can get something good from a tree!)

(Isaiah 32:6 “For the vile . . . make empty the soul of the hungry. . . .)

Proverbs 10:16 “The labour of the righteous tendeth to life. . . .”

v. 21 “The lips of the righteous feed many. . . .”

v. 32 “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable. . . .”

15:2 “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”

25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

(John 20:1-16 “Jesus saith unto her, Mary.”)

(Matthew 22:29 “Jesus answered . . . , Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”)

Psalm 37:30 “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.”

James 3(all) (8) “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be alway with grace . . . that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

18:23 “The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.”

Job 6:25 “How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?”

Proverbs 25:15 “By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.”

1st Peter 3:8-9 “. . . be courteous: not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing. . . .”

James 1:19-20, 26 “. . . let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. . . .”

Proverbs 29:20 “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.”

26:17 “He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.”

10:19 “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.”

(John 20:24-25 “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails . . . I will not believe.”)

12:23 “A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.”

13:3 “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.”

17:28 “. . . he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”

21:23 “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 “. . . let thy words be few. . . . a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.”

10:11 “Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.”

Psalm 141:3 “Set a watch, O lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1-7 “. . . there is a . . . time to every purpose . . . a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. . . .”

John 8:6 “But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.”

Matthew 7:6 “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”

Proverbs 15:23 “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!”

Luke 7:30-43 (40) “And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.”

26:4 “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.”

v. 5 “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”

25:23 “The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.”

[An “angry countenance” is as good as any words in driving away a backbiting tongue.]

Psalm 39:1 “. . . I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”

Acts 23:1-5 “Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.” (Paul considers Jesus Christ to be the “high priest” of Israel.)

Romans 13:7 “Render therefore to all their dues: . . . honour to whom honour.”

Leviticus 19:32 “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God. . . .”

(Luke 14:11 “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”)

1st Peter 2:17 “Honour all men. . . . Honour the king.”

Ephesians 4:1-3 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. . . .”

Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

Philippians 2:3 “. . . in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who . . . made himself of no reputation. . . .”

Proverbs 18:12 “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.”

Luke 6:40 “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.”

(The Lord was perfect in power and in lowliness, and was treated like dirt: he is our perfect example.)

Matthew 20:25-28 “. . . they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you. . . .”

Acts 20:35 “. . . ye ought to support the weak. . . .”

1st Peter 4:8 “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”

1st Corinthians 13:1-5 “Charity . . . is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil. . . .”

Ecclesiastes 7:8 “. . . the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

Hebrews 12:1 “. . . and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. . . .”

James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. . . .”

v. 26 “If any man among you . . . bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.”

Ecclesiastes 10:1 “Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.”

Ephesians 5:1-4 “let it not be once named among you . . . foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient. . . .”

Proverbs 26:18-19 “As a mad man who casteth firebrands . . . deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?”

[You say something slimy and then say, “Just kidding!”]

James 3:1-18 (8) “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

The Desired Results:

Psalm 37:30 “The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.”

Proverbs 31:(10-11, 26) “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”

Matthew 15:21-27 “And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

[This lady knew how to talk.]

Reproof

Genesis 4:1-7 [the Lord’s reproof of Cain]

Ecclesiastes 7:5 “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.”

Leviticus 19:17 “. . . thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.”

Proverbs 19:25 “. . . reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.”

20:15 “. . . the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.”

25:12 “As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.”

27:5 “Open rebuke is better than secret love.” (Maybe you’re not being “picked on!”)

v. 6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

Matthew 16:23-26 “[Jesus] . . . said unto Peter, Get thee behind me Satan: thou art an offence unto me. . . .”

Luke 22:47-48 “. . . Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.”

28:23 “He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.”

Romans 15:14 “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”

2nd Timothy 2:24-26 “And the servant of the Lord must . . . be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient . . . that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”