Have you ever regretted opening your mouth after saying something hurtful or 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 these from Proverbs, James, and  1 Peter.

Proverbs 4:24 says, “Keep your mouth free of perversity, keep corrupt talk far from your lips.” Keep yourselves from telling an outright lie. We want true things out of our mouths to be truthful, not deceitful. If you lie, then it will get to the point where no one will trust you.

Proverbs 16:27 says, “A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips, it is like a scorching fire.” Be silent if your words would or could ever damage someone else’s reputation. If you’re saying something purposely to damage someone else reputation then you’re doing the wrong thing. You shouldn’t be that spiteful and want to hurt someone else just because of how you’re feeling.

Proverbs 16:28 says, “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” Be silent if your words could potentially damage a friendship. If you have nothing nice to say to someone, then don’t say anything. You don’t want to lose someone as your friend just because of something that comes out of your mouth.

James 3: 9 says, “With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.” Be silent when you a feeling critical of someone or something.

Proverbs 25:28 says, “Like a city whose walls are broken through, is a person who lacks self-control.” Be silent if you can’t say anything to anyone without screaming it. No one wants someone constantly coming at them with angry words and causing them more pain. If you feel that angry, you should try to calm down and ask God to help you calm down by praying.

You can do yourself a favor and calm down by getting away from the things that are making you angry. Do something to distract yourself from your anger. Whether it’s jogging, running, playing any sport, walking, listening to music, writing out the way you feel. Do anything to get your mind off of your anger. The best thing you can do is pray that God helps you figure out why you are so angry and that He helps you get rid of that anger deep inside you.

1 Peter 2: 21-23 says, “To this, you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” Be silent if your words will be a poor reflection of your lord, or a poor reflection of your friends or family.

Proverbs 18:21 says,” The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Be silent if you may have to eventually eat your words later.

Proverbs 19:13 says, “A foolish child is a father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof.” Be silent if you’ve already said it more than once. Everyone could learn to keep their mouths shut with this one. If it is important to say, say it once and then let it go. If someone doesn’t respect what you’re saying, it’s their problem, not yours. Don’t keep saying the same thing over and over because that will easily drive people crazy, get on the people’s nerves and make people walk away from you.

Proverbs 24:24 says, “Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.” Be silent when you’re tempted to flatter someone that is wicked. No one is completely innocent in their life. The only one that is completely innocent is Jesus Himself.

Proverbs 14: 23 says, “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Be silent when you’re supposed to be working.

Proverbs 21:23 says, “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues, keep themselves from calamity.” Keep yourself from trouble and try to guard your mouth and tongue the best you can.

Be still and know that He is God. Hopefully, these verses will remind you how and when it is the best time to be silent throughout your life. It is always better to keep silent than to say something that you will instantly or eventually regret. Stay tuned for part two of this series for more verses that can help us remember to be silent.