When to Keep Your Mouth Shut

Don’t open your mouth when:

1. In the heat of anger- Proverbs 14:17, [He that is] soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

2. When you don’t have all the facts- Proverbs 18:13, He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

3. When you haven’t verified the story- Deuteronomy 17:6, At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; [but] at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.

4. If your words will offend a weaker person- 1 Corinthians 8:11, And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

5. When it is time to listen- Proverbs 13:1, A wise son [heareth] his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

6. When you are tempted to make light of holy things- 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.

7. When you are tempted to joke about sin- Proverbs 14:9, Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous [there is] favour.

8. If you would be ashamed of your words later– Proverbs 8:8, All the words of my mouth [are] in righteousness; [there is] nothing froward or perverse in them.

9. If the issue is none of your business- Proverbs 14:10, The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

10. When you are tempted to tell an outright lie- Proverbs 4:24, Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

11. If your words will do nothing but stir up evil- Proverbs 16:27, An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire.

12. If your words will damage friendships- Proverbs 16:28, A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

13. When you are feeling critical- James 3:9, Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

14. If you can’t say it without screaming it (or losing control of yourself)- Proverbs 25:28, He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.

15. If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord- 1 Peter 2:21-23, For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:

16. When you want to eat the fruits of death- Proverbs 18:21, Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

17. When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person- Proverbs 24:24, He that saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

18. When you are suppose to be working instead- Proverbs 14:23, In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.

19. When you have understanding- Proverbs 11:12, He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Proverbs 17:27, He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Proverbs 21:23, Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Proverbs 30:32 – If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

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