Ephesians 4:29

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it would give grace to those who hear.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Col 4:6 : 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.
  • Prov 15:7 : 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.
  • Prov 12:13 : 13 The evil person is ensnared by the transgression of his speech, but the righteous person escapes out of trouble.
  • Eccl 10:12 : 12 Words and Works of Wise Men and Fools The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.
  • 1 Thess 5:11 : 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, just as you are in fact doing.
  • Prov 15:2-4 : 2 The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly. 3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on those who are evil and those who are good. 4 Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse speech breaks the spirit.
  • Prov 25:11-12 : 11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken. 12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.
  • Ps 37:30-31 : 30 The godly speak wise words and promote justice. 31 The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip.
  • Col 3:8-9 : 8 But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices
  • Jas 3:2-8 : 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. 3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. 4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. 5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. 6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence– and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. 8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
  • Matt 5:16 : 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.
  • Prov 10:31-32 : 31 The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing, but the speech of the wicked is perverse.
  • Matt 12:34-37 : 34 Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart. 35 The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury. 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
  • Col 3:16-17 : 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
  • Eph 5:3-4 : 3 But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. 4 Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting– all of which are out of character– but rather thanksgiving.
  • 1 Pet 2:12 : 12 and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.
  • 1 Pet 3:1 : 1 Wives and Husbands In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then, even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live,
  • Luke 4:22 : 22 All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They said,“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
  • Rom 3:13-14 : 13 “Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
  • Mal 3:16-18 : 16 Then those who respected the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD took notice. A scroll was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the LORD and honored his name. 17 “They will belong to me,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,“in the day when I prepare my own special property. I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.
  • Prov 15:23 : 23 A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time– how good it is!
  • Prov 16:21 : 21 The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness.
  • Ps 5:9 : 9 For they do not speak the truth; their stomachs are like the place of destruction, their throats like an open grave, their tongues like a steep slope leading into it.
  • Ps 52:2 : 2 Your tongue carries out your destructive plans; it is as effective as a sharp razor, O deceiver.
  • Ps 73:7-9 : 7 Their prosperity causes them to do wrong; their thoughts are sinful. 8 They mock and say evil things; they proudly threaten violence. 9 They speak as if they rule in heaven, and lay claim to the earth.
  • Isa 50:4 : 4 The Servant Perseveres The Sovereign LORD has given me the capacity to be his spokesman, so that I know how to help the weary. He wakes me up every morning; he makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do.
  • Eph 4:16 : 16 From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body builds itself up in love.
  • 1 Cor 15:32-33 : 32 If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 33 Do not be deceived:“Bad company corrupts good morals.”
  • 1 Cor 14:19 : 19 but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
  • Jude 1:13-16 : 13 wild sea waves, spewing out the foam of their shame; wayward stars for whom the utter depths of eternal darkness have been reserved. 14 Now Enoch, the seventh in descent beginning with Adam, even prophesied of them, saying,“Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all, and to convict every person of all their thoroughly ungodly deeds that they have committed, and of all the harsh words that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain.
  • Ps 71:17-18 : 17 O God, you have taught me since I was young, and I am still declaring your amazing deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power.
  • Ps 71:24 : 24 All day long my tongue will also tell about your justice, for those who want to harm me will be embarrassed and ashamed.
  • Ps 78:4-5 : 4 we will not hide from their descendants. We will tell the next generation about the LORD’s praiseworthy acts, about his strength and the amazing things he has done. 5 He established a rule in Jacob; he set up a law in Israel. He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants,
  • Deut 6:6-9 : 6 Exhortation to Teach the Covenant Principles These words I am commanding you today must be kept in mind, 7 and you must teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up. 8 You should tie them as a reminder on your forearm and fasten them as symbols on your forehead. 9 Inscribe them on the doorframes of your houses and gates.
  • Ps 45:2 : 2 You are the most handsome of all men! You speak in an impressive and fitting manner! For this reason God grants you continual blessings.
  • Rev 13:5-6 : 5 The beast was given a mouth speaking proud words and blasphemies, and he was permitted to exercise ruling authority for forty-two months. 6 So the beast opened his mouth to blaspheme against God– to blaspheme both his name and his dwelling place, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
  • 2 Pet 2:18 : 18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.
  • Eph 4:12 : 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ,

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Eph 4:25-28
    4 verses
    76%

    25Therefore, having laid aside falsehood, each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, because we are members of one another.

    26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger.

    27Do not give the devil an opportunity.

    28The one who steals must steal no longer; instead he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he will have something to share with the one who has need.

  • Eph 4:30-32
    3 verses
    75%

    30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

    31You must put away all bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and slanderous talk– indeed all malice.

    32Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

  • Col 4:4-6
    3 verses
    75%

    4Pray that I may make it known as I should.

    5Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.

    6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.

  • Titus 2:8
    75%

    8and a sound message that cannot be criticized, so that any opponent will be at a loss, because he has nothing evil to say about us.

  • Col 3:8-9
    2 verses
    73%

    8But now, put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.

    9Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices

  • Eph 5:3-4
    2 verses
    73%

    3But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.

    4Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting– all of which are out of character– but rather thanksgiving.

  • 1 Pet 3:9-10
    2 verses
    73%

    9Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.

    10For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.

  • Rom 14:16
    72%

    16Therefore do not let what you consider good be spoken of as evil.

  • Ps 34:13
    72%

    13Then make sure you don’t speak evil words or use deceptive speech!

  • Jas 3:10
    72%

    10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.

  • Prov 4:24
    71%

    24Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips.

  • Matt 12:34-36
    3 verses
    71%

    34Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart.

    35The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury.

    36I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak.

  • Eph 4:22
    70%

    22You were taught with reference to your former way of life to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires,

  • 1 Cor 15:33
    70%

    33Do not be deceived:“Bad company corrupts good morals.”

  • Prov 15:4
    70%

    4Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse speech breaks the spirit.

  • 1 Pet 2:1
    69%

    1So get rid of all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

  • Titus 3:2
    69%

    2They must not slander anyone, but be peaceable, gentle, showing complete courtesy to all people.

  • Prov 10:31
    69%

    31The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed.

  • Luke 6:45
    69%

    45The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.

  • Matt 5:37
    69%

    37Let your word be‘Yes, yes’ or‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one.

  • 1 Pet 4:11
    69%

    11Whoever speaks, let it be with God’s words. Whoever serves, do so with the strength that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

  • Rom 14:19
    68%

    19So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another.

  • Col 2:4
    68%

    4I say this so that no one will deceive you through arguments that sound reasonable.

  • Ps 50:19
    68%

    19You do damage with words, and use your tongue to deceive.

  • Matt 15:18
    68%

    18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a person.

  • Job 27:4
    68%

    4my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will whisper no deceit.

  • Rom 3:14
    68%

    14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

  • Col 3:16
    68%

    16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.

  • Eph 5:6
    67%

    6Live in the Light Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.

  • 2 Cor 6:3
    67%

    3We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.

  • 1 Pet 4:4
    67%

    4So they are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.

  • Luke 6:43
    67%

    43“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,

  • Jas 1:19
    67%

    19Living Out the Message Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.

  • Jas 1:21
    67%

    21So put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the message implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.

  • Heb 12:15
    67%

    15See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through it many become defiled.

  • 1 Cor 14:9
    67%

    9It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.

  • Matt 15:11
    67%

    11What defiles a person is not what goes into the mouth; it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles a person.”

  • 1 Thess 4:12
    67%

    12In this way you will live a decent life before outsiders and not be in need.