What does the Bible say about waiting to speak?

16 verses about waiting to speak, ranked by the votes of OpenBible.info readers, with the King James text.

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Bible verses about waiting to speak

1. James 1:19 — Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 11 votes
2. Proverbs 18:13 — He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. 8 votes
3. Proverbs 10:19 — In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. 7 votes
4. Proverbs 21:23 — Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. 7 votes
5. Proverbs 29:20 — Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him. 7 votes
6. Proverbs 15:28 — The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things. 6 votes
7. Psalms 141:3 — Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 5 votes
8. Ecclesiastes 3:7 — A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 5 votes
9. Ephesians 4:29 — Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 5 votes
10. Proverbs 13:3 — He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. 4 votes
11. Job 6:24 — Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred. 3 votes
12. Proverbs 17:27 — He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 3 votes
13. Ecclesiastes 5:2 — Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3 votes
14. Titus 3:2 — To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. 3 votes
15. Amos 5:13 — Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. 2 votes
16. 1 Peter 3:15 — But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 2 votes

Where these verses are

Proverbs (7), Ecclesiastes (2), Job (1), Psalms (1), Amos (1), Ephesians (1), Titus (1), James (1), 1 Peter (1)

Related topics

• Keeping Quiet
• Quick To Listen And Slow To Speak
• Talking Too Much
• Power Of The Tongue
• Idle Words
• Speaking
• Unkind Words
• The Tongue
• Speech
• Taming Your Tongue
• Communications
• Words Of My Mouth

Topical Bible data by OpenBible.info (https://www.openbible.info/topics/), CC BY 4.0. Votes reflect how many readers judged each verse relevant; they are not a doctrinal ranking. Verse text: King James Version.