Ephesians 4:29

Modern

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.

Traditional

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.

Literal

Do not let any rotten word go forth out of your mouth, but if any is good for edification of the need, so that it may give grace to those hearing.

Latin

Omnis sermo malus ex ore vestro non procedat: sed si quis bonus ad ædificationem fidei ut det gratiam audientibus.

Greek

English

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.

Believers should learn new ways of speaking that encourage others (see also 5:3–4, 12).

Paul gives believers specific guidelines for living a new life in Christ.

Theme notes and profiles

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.
Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
Proverbs 15:7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
Colossians 3:8–9
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Matthew 12:34–37
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
Proverbs 25:11–12
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Psalm 37:30–31
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
James 3:2–8
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.
Proverbs 15:2–4
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
Colossians 3:16–17
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Ephesians 5:3–4
But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.