The saying “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is dead wrong. Words do hurt.
As a child I was a victim of verbal abuse. Every ill word said to me by a loved one was like a stone thrown at my heart. It took me years and years as an adult to heal the wounds ill-spoken words caused.
Yet even though I personally know the damage words can do, I am far from perfect in my speech to others. I too have slung words that I wish I could retrieve.
I reread the book of Proverbs recently and verse upon verse about the power of our words kept jumping off the page.
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When I was scrolling through pictures for backgrounds for these 10 Bible verses on the power of words I am sharing with you below, I came across the picture I had taken of polished stones at a gift shop and knew immediately the background for these verses on words had to be stones.
Our words are stones. We are nothing but stone-throwers with each word we speak.
If our words contain beauty, people treasure them.
If our words contain pain, people toss them aside–but not until after they have had to deal with the wound the words caused.
Like the stones in these pictures are hand-selected by buyers, we get to choose our words. Which ones will you choose?
10 Bible Verses On The Power Of Our Words
Proverbs 11:9 “Evil words destroy; Godly skill rebuilds.” (TLB)
Proverbs 11:12 “It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor; a sensible person keeps quiet.” (NLT)
Proverbs 11:17 “Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel.” (TLB)
Proverbs 15: 1 “A gentle answer quiets anger, but a harsh one stirs it up.” (GNT)
Proverbs 15:4 “Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.” (MSG)
Proverbs 16:24 “Kind words are like honey. They are sweet to the spirit and bring healing to the body.” (NIRV)
Proverbs 18:4 “A person’s words can be a source of wisdom, deep as the ocean, fresh as a flowing stream.” (GNT)
Proverbs 18:20 “Good words satisfy like a fine meal; yes, good conversations are sure to satisfy.” (VOICE)
Proverbs 20:15 “Wise words are more valuable than gold and many rubies.” (NLT)
Proverbs 25:18 “Telling lies about friends is like attacking them with clubs and swords and sharp arrows.” (CEV)
If you love studying Bible verses by topic, you may like this book. I keep a copy of it by my bedside and read a section of it each night before bed.
More Bible Verses On The Power Of The Tongue
Proverbs 26:20 “Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.” (NLT)
Proverbs 19:5 “A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.” (NLT)
Ephesians 4:29 “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (NLT)
Matthew 12:36 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,” (ESV)
Proverbs 21:23 “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.” (KJV)
James 3:2-5 ” For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” (ESV)
Psalm 141:3 “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” (NLT)
1 Peter 3:10 ” For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. (King James Version)
Proverbs 15:26 “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD, but gracious words are pure.” (ESV)
Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (KJV)
James 1:26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. (KJV)
James 3:6-7 “The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and it is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (NIV)
James 3:10-12 “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring bears both salt water and fresh.” (NKJV)
Proverbs 6: 16-19 “There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (ESV)
Proverbs 12:18 “There is that speaketh like piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” (KJV)
Psalm 119:171 “Let praise flow from my lips, for you have taught me your decrees.” (NLT)
Psalm 39:1 “I said, ‘I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.’ ” (ESV)
Ecclesiastes 5:2 “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.” (ESV)
Proverbs 17:20 “The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.” (NLT)
Colossians 3:8 “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” (ESV)
Simple Ways To Sprinkle Scripture On Words Throughout Your Home
1. Chalkboard
Did you know you can buy framed Chalkboards from Amazon? You can even buy the sandwich board style that would be so cute placed outside your front door with one of these verses.
2. Whiteboard
A magnetic whiteboard placed in the entranceway to your home is handy for more than notes–use it to put a scripture where you will see it every day as you enter and leave your home.
3. Felt Board
Felt boards are all the rage! Place one in your home in an area people pass daily. Or you could get a tabletop one and meditate on a verse as you eat.
4. Printables on a Clipboard
It doesn’t take long to open up your word processing program, type out a Bible verse on love, and create a black and white printable with it. All you need to do is play around with the fonts and spacing until you like what you see.
Print your verse out and then place it on a clipboard with a hole in the top and hang it wherever you want in your home using command hooks. You could even make a wall full of clipboards with verses.
5. Removable Wall Decals
Amazon sells several different removable wall decals that contain scriptures.
6. Use Your Creativity To Create Wall Hangings And More
If you have a Cricut, then the ideas for where you can place scripture are endless. You can put verses on t-shirts, walls, glassware, binders, cups and so much more with one of these machines.
Of course, you can place scripture around your home using other art mediums including hand-lettering on canvas, paper, or wood.
Related Posts That You Are Going To Want To Read:
- 10 Bible Verses On What It Takes To Be A Good Friend
- 10 Bible Verses Thrifty People Memorize
- Share The Spirit Of Thanksgiving With These 12 Bible Verses
- 10 Bible Verses On Love
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Sarah Ann says
These are fabulous reminder of the power of our words! May we hide them in our hearts to meditate in times of weakness! Sharing this today!
Alaina Frederick says
I love all of these!! I’m going to write them down on index cards to start working on committing to memory.
Bob Hekker says
How is the memory verses going? That is a great idea.
Pam says
I love this! A great way to remember our favorite scriptures!
Any other cute ideas please send them!
Jennifer Dawn says
What a fantastic post! So many great verses here!
Clare Speer says
Wow – very very timely post for me! I need these scriptures and this post! Thanks for this word!
Deborah says
So true words coming flying out so quickly and can do so much damage! These scriptures spoke to me this morning as I go through my day! Thank You!
joni says
Let us not forget that an enemy will cover us with kisses, and sweet words, while a friend will always tell the truth, no matter how hard it may be to hear!
Timmy says
The lord will bless you for the word of God is powerful. this reminds me of how to check my christian daily life status. The book of proverb is about wisdom and knowledge.
God bless
Kats says
So true, Timmy.
Tyreke says
That’s true
Bonnie Penland says
What Bible version did you use for proverbs 11:17. I love it.
Victoria says
My guess is going to be either the Message or the NLT those are the two versions of the bible I read the most.
Andrew says
i know this is many years later, but i would not use those version for quoting and memorizing scripture. they sometimes can help get the big picture of things but not good for quotes.
for example, proverbs 11:9 in the version you used speaks about evil words, where the bible speaks of the words of evil people.
so just in the future know that using these paraphrased translations is not good unless you are reading them only to help undestand somethinf before returning to a more accurate translaton. the way you used them is not good becuase it gives false impression of what the scripture says to those who may not know or may not be christians
Pam says
Andrew, which versions should be used? And not used? Is king James ok? Which do you prefer and why? Ty!
Brianna Yates says
Thank you for sharing these scriptures! Working on how I speak over others and even myself is important to God. The power of life and death is in the tongue!
Cherele says
Very encouraging.. Thank you for sharing this thoughts about the power of our words .
Johnson says
Nice bible study
janet says
Thank you so much for sharing these scriptures with us, God bless you
We should be mindful of words that we speak, words can build words can break
janice Hoggard says
Awesome scriptures to meditate on!
Siphiwe says
Powerful scriptures indeed words do create atmospheres and realities by words God created the whole universe.
Words are powerful
Lisa says
I was wondering what version these scriptures come from?
Victoria says
Various different ones.
Rachelle C Foley says
also i would like to add is ……lost words or words not said …..there deep in you heart these things need to be shared or they cant be forgotten .. there only forgotten by you .I’ve learned if God gives you a word and you don’t share it …. its like you putting your treasure in the ground and then no one can see its beauty .
Apostle Simon says
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
Ecclesiasticus 21:26
“The heart of fools is in their mouth: but the mouth of the wise is in their heart.”
Ecclesiastes 10:12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Ecclesiastes 10:14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Lot says
Thanks for the post, really appreciate and blessed.
Cynthia Holt says
These are some great verses to focus on. I actually woke up this morning with the power of words on my mind. Then I stumbled on to your website. Actually stumbled isn’t the right word. I believe the Lord opened this door. I’m so very thankful. Thank you for your post. Have a great day. Cynthia