Have you ever regretted opening your mouth after saying something hurtful sinful or when you said something out of desperation or anger? Chances are, we have all experienced those feelings of regret, pain and guilt and anger at ourselves. We know the feeling of guilt from opening our mouths when we should have just kept them shut. Verses that remind us to be silent at certain times include:

Proverbs 14:17: “Be silent in the heat of anger.” When you feel anger rise up within you, be quick to be silent. It is better to be quiet than to stir up trouble. It is better to be quiet than to let your anger come spilling out of your mouth.

After all, anger is like a poison that can take us over and turn all of us into something ugly. It can turn you into someone that you don’t recognize and someone you don’t want to be.  It can destroy your relationships with your spouse, your friendships and even your relationship with your coworkers and boss. It could even cause you to get cast out of your family or fired from your job. Remember, once your words are out of your mouth, you can’t take them back. You can only ask for forgiveness from the person or the people that you hurt.

Proverbs 18:13 says, “To answer before listening, that is folly and shame.” Basically, don’t answer questions or talk about something or someone, unless you have all the facts and the correct information. Don’t gossip either. There is no real point in gossiping about something when all you’ve probably heard what some people call hearsay or better known as gossip. Don’t gossip unless you want the gossip traced back to you or having the story that is completely a lie be traced back to you. No one wants to be talked about or gossiped about, so try not to do it to someone else. It is something that we all have to work on. It takes practice and much discipline.

Deuteronomy 17: 6 says,“On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is to be put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.” Be silent until you have verified all the facts. We should be careful of what we say no matter how, where or when we say it. God is always listening and he hears and sees everything. Anyone can record what we say too with their cell phones. So, if you don’t want to end up in the hot seat, don’t say anything and keep your mouth shut.

1 Corinthians 8:11 says, “So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.” Basically, be silent if your words could or would offend someone that is weaker. Don’t let your knowledge destroy someone else. Don’t brag about something that you know about just to destroy someone else.

Proverbs 13:1 says, “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.” This verse says that we should all be silent when it is time to listen to someone else that is talking. It means we shouldn’t just jump right into the conversation and say the things we feel. If we jump in too quickly we are only putting the attention on ourselves instead of being curious to the other person who wanted us to listen to them.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, “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.” Do not make light of the things that are holy. Don’t make fun of God either. He is not to be taken lightly.

Proverbs 14:9 says, “Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.” Be silent when you are tempted to joke about sin. We all shouldn’t be joking about sin or taking it lightly. We all sin every single day. Joking about sin only makes all of us look stupid when we do it. We should be quick to ask for forgiveness from our sins instead of joking around about them and thinking that it’s okay to joke about our sin.

Proverbs 8:8 says, “All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.” Be silent when you realize you would or could be ashamed by the words you say, later in life. Be quiet if the things you say will make you ashamed of yourself later on. There is no point in saying something out of anger, frustration or sadness, or even desperation to get your point across. In your heart of hearts and deep in your soul you know that you probably shouldn’t have said so much of the things you’ve already said. If saying something will eventually cause you much regret and guilt, then don’t say it. Think about your words before you say anything.

Proverbs 17:7 says, “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.” If your words would give you the wrong impression about yourself, someone else or the subject that is being discussed, then be smart and just don’t say anything.

Proverbs 14:10 says, “Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.” Basically, He is telling all of us to keep our mouths shut when something that is being discussed is none of our business.

Hopefully, these verses will help you remember when to be silent and remind you to hold your tongue when things are better left unsaid.