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What does the Bible say about gossip?
We know the world is filled with all manner unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice, and deceit. We see character assassination happen daily in the news or on social media.
But to the world - lies and gossip are like choice morsels. It feels like we are in on a secret. It feels like we have a moral upper hand on someone.
A gossip betrays confidence and reveals secrets. In Psalm 101:5, we know that the Lord hates gossip:
Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly, I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart will not endure.
The devil breathes out lies and spreads strife. Haters of God become the inventors of evil - They will lie and say "religion is worthless" or "God isn't real".
Gossip stirs up conflict and separates close friends. Corruption and deceit shed innocent blood and lead to envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness, and destruction.
How do you avoid gossip and lies?
Daily Bible studies will bring you closer to the Kingdom of God. It helps you in speaking the truth. It enables you to stay obedient to God's will.
In today's Bible study, we will read Bible verses on gossip and lies. We will learn what God says about it and how to avoid it.
If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.
I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
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.
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord.
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.