ZIP YOUR LIPS

ZIP YOUR LIPS

                

The tongue is a powerful instrument. I have seen it make beautiful women ugly and ugly women beautiful. I have seen it build up, and I have seen it destroy. I have been built up, and I have been destroyed by its action. There is a saying that goes, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." There is no truth to that saying. Words can hurt much more than sticks and stones. They usually cause longer-lasting injuries than sticks and stones. Following are verses from the Old and New Testaments warning us to zip our lips or tame our tongues.

Ex. 20:7 - ""You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."

Ex. 20:16 - "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."

Ex. 23:8 - ""Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous.

Lev. 19:16 - "Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD."

Num 30:2 - "When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

Deut. 23:21-23 - "If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.  But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty.  Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Job 29:22-23 - "After I had spoken, they spoke no more; my words fell gently on their ears.  They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain.

Job 34:2-3 - ""Hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning.  For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food."

Job 38:1-2 - "Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:  "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?

Ps. 5:3-4: - "For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword."

Ps. 5:8-9 - "Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies-- make straight your way before me.  Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit."

Ps. 10:4-7 - "In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.  His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies.  He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble."  His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.

Ps. 12:3-4 - "May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue that says, "We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips --who is our master?"

Ps. 19:14 - "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer."

Ps. 34:13 - "keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies."

Ps. 36:3 - "The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and to do good."

Ps. 37:30 - The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just."

Ps. 39:1b-2 - "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."  But when I was silent and still, not even saying anything good, my anguish increased.'"

Ps. 50:16-17 - "But to the wicked, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?  You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you."

Ps. 52:4 - "4  You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue!"

Ps. 55:21 - "His speech is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

Ps. 56:5 - "All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me."

Ps. 59:12 - "For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter,"

Ps. 64:3 - "3  They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows."

Ps. 94:4 - "They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting."

Ps. 101:5 - "Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure."

Ps. 120:2 - "Save me, O LORD, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.

Ps. 140:3 - "They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent's; the poison of vipers is on their lips."

Ps. 141:3 - "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips."

Prov. 2:12-17 - "Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,  who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.  It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words, who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God.

Prov. 4:24 - "Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips."

Prov. 6:16-19 - "There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."

Prov. 7:4-5 - "Say to wisdom, 'You are my sister,' and call understanding your kinsman; they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words."

Prov. 7:21 - "With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk."

Prov. 8:12-13 - "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.  To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."

Prov. 10:11 - The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life.

Prov. 10:19 - "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."

Prov. 10:20 - "The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value."

Prov. 10:21 - "The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment."

Prov. 10:31 - "The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out."

Prov. 10:32 - "The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse."

Prov. 11:12 - "A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

Prov. 11:13 - "A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret."

Prov. 12:6 - "The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

Prov, 12:14 - A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.

Prov. 12:18 - "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 

Prov. 12:19 - "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment."

Prov. 12:22 - "The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful."

Prov. 12:25 - "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."

Prov. 13:3 - "He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin."

Prov. 14:3 -  A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.

Prov. 15:2 - "The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly."

Prov. 15:4 - "The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."

Prov. 15:23 - "A man finds joy in giving an apt reply-- and how good is a timely word!"

Prov. 16:21 - "The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction."

Prov. 16:23-24 - The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

Prov. 16:27 - "A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

Prov. 16:28 - "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."

Prov. 17:4 - "A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue."

Prov. 17:7 - "Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool--how much worse lying lips to a ruler!"

Prov. 17:20 - "A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble."

Prov. 17:27 - "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered."

Prov. 17:28 - "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."

Prov. 18:7 - "A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Prov. 18:8 - "The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts."

Prov. 18:13 - "He who answers before listening-- that is his folly and his shame."

Prov. 18:21 - "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

Prov. 19:1 - "Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse."

Prov. 20:15 - "Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel."

Prov. 20:19 - "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much."

Prov. 21:23 - "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity."

Prov. 23:9 - "Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.

Prov. 25:15 - "Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone."

Prov. 25:23 - "As a north wind brings rain, so a sly tongue brings angry looks."

Prov. 26:20 - "Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down."

Prov. 26:22 - "The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts."

Prov. 26:24 - "A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit.

Prov. 26:25  "Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart."

Prov. 26:28 - "A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin."

Prov. 29:19 - "A servant cannot be corrected by mere words; though he understands, he will not respond."

Eccl. 5:2-3 - "Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.  As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words."

Eccl. 5:6-7 - "Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, "My vow was a mistake." Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands?  "Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

Eccl. 6:11 - "The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?"

Ecc. 9:17 - "The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools."

Eccl. 10:12-14 - "Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips.  At the beginning his words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness--and the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming-- who can tell him what will happen after him?"

Eccl. 10:20 - "Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say."

Jer. 15:19a - "Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.'"

Micah 6:12 - "Her rich men are violent; her people are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully."

NEW TESTAMENT:

Mt 5:33-35a, 37 - "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'  But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool;..." "Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one."

Mt 6:7 - "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words."

Mt 12:34-35 - "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.  

Matt. 12:36-37 - "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Rom. 1:28 32- "Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.  They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.  Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Rom. 3:13-14 - "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.  The poison of vipers is on their lips. "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness."

Rom. 10:8-10 - But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

I Cor. 2:1-3 - "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.

I Cor. 13:4 - "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."

I Cor. 14:9 - "So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air."

I Cor 14:19 - "But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue."

II Cor. 12:20 - "For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder."

Eph. 4:15 - "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."

Eph. 4:25 - "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body."

Eph. 4:29 - "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."

Eph. 4:31 - "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."

Eph. 5:4 - "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving."

Eph. 5:6-7 - "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them."

 Eph. 6:4 - "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

Phil. 2:14 - "Do everything without complaining or arguing..."

Phil. 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."

Col. 3:8 - "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips."

Col. 4:6 - "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

I Thess. 4:11-12 - "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

I Tim. 4:12 - "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."

I Tim. 5:13 - "Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to."

I Tim. 6:3-5 - "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain."

II Tim. 2:14 - "Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen."

II Tim. 2:24-26 - "And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."

II Tim. 3:1-5 - "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."

Titus 2:7-8 - "In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."

James 1:26 - "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 3:2-10 - "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."

James 4:1 - "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?"

James 4:11a - "Brothers, do not slander one another.

I Pet. 2:1 - "Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind."

I Pet. 3:1 - "Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives..."

I Pet. 3:10 - "For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech."

I Pet. 4:11 - "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 for ever and ever."

II Pet. 2:18-19 - "For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.

I Jn 3:18 - "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

WELL SAID:

To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue.

Try to fix the mistake--never the blame.

A good listener is a silent flatterer.

Whenever you speak, your mind is on parade.

Talk is cheap, but you can't buy it back.

Gossip runs down more people than automobiles.

Those who think it permissible to tell white lies soon become color blind.

We have two ears and one mouth that we may listen the more and talk the less. 

I have one tongue, two ears, two eyes;

God created me that way.

So it must be, if I am wise,

I'll hear and see more than I'll say.

SO IT GOES...

Mrs. Brown:  "She told me that you told her the secret that I told you not to tell her!"

Mrs. Blue:  "That mean thing!  I told her not to tell you I told her."

Mrs. Brown:  "Well, don't tell her that I told you she told me."