James 3:9

Restraining The Tongue

⁸ But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts].

Bless God

Bless the Lord

God the Father

Image of God

Likeness of God

Praise the Lord

O God

1 Corinthians 11:7

A man ought not have his head covered [during worship], since he is the image and [reflected] glory of God; but the woman is [the expression of] man’s glory.

Genesis 1:26-27

Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.”

Genesis 5:1

This is the book (the written record, the history) of the generations of [the descendants of] Adam. When God created man, He made him in the likeness of God [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness].

Genesis 9:6

“Whoever sheds man’s blood [unlawfully],
By man (judicial government) shall his blood be shed,
For in the image of God
He made man.

Judges 9:27

They went out into the field, gathered the grapes of their vineyard and trod them, and held a festival; and they entered the house of their god, and they ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.

2 Samuel 16:5

When King David came to Bahurim, a man named Shimei, the son of Gera, came out from there. He was of the family of Saul’s household and he was cursing continually as he came out.

2 Samuel 19:21

But Abishai the son of Zeruiah said, “Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord’s anointed?”

1 Chronicles 29:10

Therefore David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly and said, “Blessed (praised, adored, and thanked) are You, O Lord God of Israel (Jacob) our father, forever and ever.

1 Chronicles 29:20

Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless (praise, thank) the Lord your God.” And all the assembly blessed the Lord, the God of their fathers, and bowed down and honored the Lord and to the king [as His earthly representative].

Psalm 10:7

His mouth is full of curses and deceit (fraud) and oppression;
Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness [injustice and sin].

Psalm 16:9

Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my innermost self] rejoices;
My body too will dwell [confidently] in safety,

Psalm 30:12

That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Psalm 34:1

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Psalm 35:28

And my tongue shall declare Your righteousness (justice),
And Your praise all the day long.

Psalm 51:14

Rescue me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation;
Then my tongue will sing joyfully of Your righteousness and Your justice.

Psalm 57:8

Awake, my glory!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

Psalm 59:12

For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips,
Let them even be trapped in their pride,
And on account of the curses and lies which they tell.

Psalm 62:4

They consult only to throw him down from his high position [to dishonor him];
They delight in lies.
They bless with [the words of] their mouths,
But inwardly they curse. Selah.

Psalm 63:4

So will I bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Psalm 71:24

My tongue also will speak of Your righteousness all day long;
For they are ashamed, for they are humiliated who seek my injury.

Psalm 108:1

O God, my heart is steadfast [with confident faith];
I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.

Psalm 109:17-18

He also loved cursing, and it came [back] to him;
He did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.

Psalm 145:1

I will exalt You, my God, O King,
And [with gratitude and submissive wonder] I will bless Your name forever and ever.

Psalm 145:21

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh will bless and gratefully praise His holy name forever and ever.

Ecclesiastes 7:22

for you also know that you too have cursed others many times.

Isaiah 29:13

Then the Lord said,

“Because this nation approaches [Me only] with their words
And honors Me [only] with their lip service,
But they remove their hearts far from Me,
And their reverence for Me is a tradition that is learned by rote [without any regard for its meaning],

Matthew 5:44

But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Matthew 26:74

Then he began to curse [that is, to invoke God’s judgment on himself] and swear [an oath], “I do not know the man!” And at that moment a rooster crowed.

Acts 2:26

‘Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted exceedingly;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope [that is, will encamp in anticipation of the resurrection];

Romans 3:14

“Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ,

1 Peter 1:3

Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,