All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.

The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.

But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,

But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.

But I tell you that men will give an 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.”

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.

Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil.

A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.

Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

As soon as night had fallen, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. . . .

On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—He will testify about Me.

However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.

You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

A man or a woman who is a medium or spiritist must surely be put to death. They shall be stoned; their blood is upon them.’”

Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”

Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.

He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.

He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.

So then, let us pursue what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.

You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for it is just as if her head were shaved. . . .

For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: . . .

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

because everyone born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.

Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing. That is why we boast among God’s churches about your perseverance and faith in the face of all the persecution and affliction you are enduring. All this is clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment. And so you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. . . .

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace and peace to you from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints— the faith and love proceeding from the hope stored up for you in heaven, of which you have already heard in the word of truth, the gospel . . .

to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.

And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.

But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. . . .

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,

This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who testifies to everything he saw. This is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near. John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven Spirits before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood, . . .

Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.