New International Version keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. New Living Translation Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! English Standard Version Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Berean Standard Bible Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Berean Literal Bible Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. King James Bible Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. New King James Version Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. New American Standard Bible Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. NASB 1995 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. NASB 1977 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Legacy Standard Bible Guard your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. Amplified Bible Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. Berean Annotated Bible Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Christian Standard Bible Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Holman Christian Standard Bible Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. American Standard Version Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile. Contemporary English Version Then don't say cruel things and don't tell lies. English Revised Version Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. GOD'S WORD® Translation Keep your tongue from saying evil things and your lips from speaking deceitful things. Good News Translation Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies. International Standard Version Then keep your tongue from doing evil and your lips from spreading lies. NET Bible Then make sure you don't speak evil words or use deceptive speech! New Heart English Bible Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies. Webster's Bible Translation Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleKeep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. World English Bible Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionKeep your tongue from evil, "" And your lips from speaking deceit. Berean Literal Bible Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Young's Literal Translation Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking deceit. Smith's Literal Translation Watch thy tongue from evil; and thy lips from speaking deceit. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleKeep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Catholic Public Domain Version New American Bible Keep your tongue from evil, your lips from speaking lies. New Revised Standard Version Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleKeep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking guile. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Keep your tongue from evil and your lips will not speak deceit. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile. Brenton Septuagint Translation Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Taste and See that the LORD is Good…12Who is the man who delights in life, who desires to see good days? 13Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. 14Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.… Cross References Keep your tongue from evil 1 Peter 3:10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. James 3:8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Psalm 39:1 For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.” and your lips from deceitful speech. Psalm 120:2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight. Proverbs 6:17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, James 3:2-10 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. / When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal. / Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined. … Proverbs 21:23 He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress. Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin. Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen. Matthew 12:36-37 But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. / For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. Colossians 3:8 But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Proverbs 15:1-4 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. / The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly. / The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good. … James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. Proverbs 18:21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Treasury of Scripture Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Keep Psalm 39:1 To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Matthew 12:35-37 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things… speaking Psalm 55:11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. Proverbs 12:7,19,22 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand… Proverbs 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. Jump to Previous Deceit Evil Guile Lips Speaking Tongue WordsJump to Next Deceit Evil Guile Lips Speaking Tongue WordsPsalm 34 1. David praises God, and exhorts others thereto by his experience8. They are blessed who trust in God 11. He exhorts to the fear of God 15. The privileges of the righteous Keep your tongue from evil Words reveal the condition of the heart and can bring injury, conflict, or corruption. In Israel’s covenant life, truthful and restrained speech protected families, neighbors, and the wider community. Those who fear the Lord are to reject speech that harms others or dishonors God. 1Pe 3:10 Whoever would love life and see good days… and your lips from deceitful speech. Lies, manipulation, and false accusations undermine justice and destroy trust. God requires His people to speak honestly, reflecting His own faithfulness. A life marked by the fear of the Lord includes refusing deceit in every form. Psa 120:2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips… Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of Psalm 34, who wrote this psalm after pretending to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. This context highlights David's reliance on God for deliverance and his commitment to righteous living. 2. Abimelech A Philistine king before whom David feigned madness to escape. This event is a backdrop to the psalm, emphasizing themes of deliverance and integrity. 3. The Israelites The original audience of the psalm, who were encouraged to live righteously and trust in God's protection and provision. Teaching Points Guarding Our SpeechThe Hebrew word for "keep" (natsar) implies a vigilant guarding or watching over. As believers, we are called to be vigilant in monitoring our speech to ensure it aligns with God's standards. Avoiding Deceit The term "deceitful" (mirmah) refers to treachery or falsehood. Christians are encouraged to speak truthfully, reflecting the character of God, who is truth. The Power of Words Words have the power to build up or tear down. As followers of Christ, we should use our words to edify others and glorify God. Reflecting Christ in Communication Our speech should reflect the love and truth of Christ, serving as a testimony to others of the transformative power of the Gospel. Practical Steps for Speech Control Implementing practical steps such as pausing before speaking, praying for wisdom, and immersing oneself in Scripture can help in controlling one's tongue. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Psalm 34:13?2. How can we practically "keep your tongue from evil" in daily conversations? 3. What steps help "keep your lips from deceitful speech" according to Psalm 34:13? 4. How does James 3:5-10 relate to controlling our tongue in Psalm 34:13? 5. Why is avoiding deceitful speech important for a Christian's witness and testimony? 6. In what ways can prayer assist in guarding our speech as Psalm 34:13 advises? 7. How does Psalm 34:13 guide Christians in controlling their speech and actions? 8. What historical context influenced the writing of Psalm 34:13? 9. How does Psalm 34:13 align with the broader themes of the Book of Psalms? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Psalm 34? Verse 13. - Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. If the end be happiness, the means will be right moral conduct; and, first of all, right government of the tongue. Sins of the tongue are numerous, and abundantly noted in the Psalms (Psalm 5:9; Psalm 10:7; Psalm 12:3; Psalm 15:3; Psalm 50:19; Psalm 57:4; Psalm 73:8, 9, etc.). They are more difficult to avoid than any others; they cling closer to us; they are scarcely ever wholly laid aside. "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2). The meek Moses "spake unadvisedly with his lips" (Psalm 106:33). Job "darkened counsel by words without knowledge "(Job 38:2). St. Peter's words on one occasion drew upon him the rebuke, "Get thee behind me, Satan" (Matthew 16:23). Psalm 34:13 issues a clear, practical call: actively guard every word. Our tongues and lips are not to be instruments of harm or deceit but tools for truth and blessing. Obedience here protects personal integrity, strengthens relationships, and honors the Lord who hears every syllable we speak. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Keepנְצֹ֣ר (nə·ṣōr) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 5341: To watch, guard, keep your tongue לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ (lə·šō·wn·ḵā) Noun - common singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 3956: The tongue from evil מֵרָ֑ע (mê·rā‘) Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil and your lips וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ (ū·śə·p̄ā·ṯe·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - fdc | second person masculine singular Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin from deceitful מִרְמָֽה׃ (mir·māh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4820: Deceit, treachery speech. מִדַּבֵּ֥ר (mid·dab·bêr) Preposition-m | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue Additonal Resources Psalm 34:13 Blue Letter BiblePsalm 34:13 Bible Gateway Psalm 34:13 Bible.com Psalm 34:13 NIV |
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