The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about the power of our words and how we use our tongues. In Proverbs 6:12 we read “A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech.” This verse warns against the dangers of having a “perverse mouth” that speaks in a twisted, deceitful manner.
Let’s break this down and see what we can learn about having a “perverse mouth” from a biblical perspective:
1. A perverse mouth speaks deceitfully and distorts the truth
The Hebrew word translated as “crooked” here literally means “twisted” or “distorted.” A perverse mouth is one that twists words in order to deceive, mislead, and manipulate others. Instead of speaking truthfully and plainly, it crafts clever lies and half-truths to accomplish selfish ends. As Proverbs 4:24 warns us: “Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.”
Examples of perverse speech include lying, slander, gossip, flattery, and any other form of deceptive communication. A perverse mouth is given to deception, not truthfulness.
2. A perverse mouth causes strife and leads others into trouble
Proverbs 6:14 says of those with perverse mouths: “With crooked heart he devises evil, continually sowing discord.” Perverse speech often incites conflict, fans the flames of discord, and draws others into its web of deceit. Proverbs 16:28 warns that “a dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.”
Rather than promoting peace, those with perverse mouths enjoy manipulating situations and relationships for their own purposes. Their twisted words lead to broken trust, damaged relationships, and great pain.
3. A perverse mouth reflects a corrupt heart
According to Jesus in Matthew 15:18, “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart.” Our speech is rooted in the inner condition of our hearts. When our mouths are perverse, it indicates that our hearts are darkened by sin and bent toward evil (Jeremiah 17:9).
As Proverbs 6:14 noted, a “crooked heart” is the source of “crooked speech.” Our twisted words reveal our own moral and spiritual corruption that needs to be confessed and cleansed by God.
4. God hates a perverse mouth and it leads to destruction
The book of Proverbs contains stern warnings about the destination of those who refuse to tame their tongues. For example, Proverbs 10:31-32 declares: “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.”
In the end, God will silence all perverse mouths and speech. Those who sow deception and malice with their tongues will reap judgment (Prov. 22:8; James 3:6). But the righteous who speak wisely and truthfully will be blessed.
5. We must turn from perverse speech and speak truth
So what is the solution for a perverse mouth? With God’s help, we must repent of twisted speech and embrace honesty. Proverbs 8:8 exhorts: “All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing crooked or perverse in them.” By turning to Jesus, our “hearts can be made clean” (Prov. 10:32) and our tongues can be tamed.
As those pursuing godliness, we must make a covenant with our mouths to speak truthfully and edifyingly, not deceitfully (Psalm 15:1-4; Ephesians 4:25, 29). We must also fill our hearts with God’s truth and wisdom found in Scripture, which will guide our speech (Psalm 119:11; Colossians 3:16).
Day by day, through the empowering grace of Christ, we can overcome perverse lips and walk in spiritual renewal.
6. Jesus provides both motivation and power to cleanse our speech
In Jesus Christ we find both the motivation and the power to cleanse our mouths and speak uprightly. Through His death on the cross, Jesus frees us from both the penalty and power of sin, including sins of the tongue.
Knowing how greatly Christ suffered because of our sin motivates us to pursue holiness (1 Peter 4:1-2). Relying on the Holy Spirit’s power enables us to walk in freedom and speak righteously (Galatians 5:16). As Christians, we now represent Christ with our words and can walk in newness of life, leaving all perverse speech behind (Ephesians 4:17-24).
7. Scripture commands us to control our tongues and be quick to hear, slow to speak
The Bible contains many exhortations for God’s people to carefully control their tongues and not be quick to speak loosely or without wisdom. For example:
- “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” (Proverbs 10:19)
- “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Proverbs 21:23)
- “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” (James 1:19)
Learning to be quick to listen to others, slow to speak ourselves, and careful in how we respond can go a long way in overcoming a perverse mouth prone to hasty, foolish, or deceitful speech.
8. We must fill our hearts with God’s truth to speak wisely
In order to speak uprightly on a consistent basis, we need hearts and minds saturated in God’s truth. As Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Our speech is directly connected to what fills our hearts.
By regularly reading, studying, and memorizing Scripture, we can “let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly” (Colossians 3:16). Hiding God’s Word in our hearts will strengthen us to avoid perverse lips and instead speak words of truth, wisdom and kindness.
9. The Holy Spirit empowers righteous speech
On our own, efforts to tame the tongue will fail. But through the Holy Spirit, we can gain victory in this area. As Galatians 5:22-23 describes the Spirit produces self-control in our lives – including control over our words. As we walk in step with the Spirit, He will empower and remind us to speak uprightly even when tempted to do otherwise.
By humbly relying on the Spirit’s power and fruit daily, we can overcome perverse lips. Any lasting transformation in our speech begins with His work in our hearts.
10. Scripture urges us to bless others with our words and build them up
The Bible encourages us to use words in a positive way to bless and build up others. For example:
- “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)
- “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” (Proverbs 12:25)
Making a habit of speaking words that encourage, strengthen and bless others is a key way to demonstrate the sincerity of our repentance from perverse speech that harms.
11. We must bridle our tongues to walk in righteousness
James 1:26 warns, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” Failing to control our tongues nullifies our claims of godliness. Why? Because holiness flows from a transformed heart, not just external actions.
As those being sanctified by Christ, Christians must “bridle” their tongues by actively restraining speech that dishonors God. We demonstrate true religion not just by avoiding overt sins but by speaking words of integrity, love and nobility that reflect Christ’s heart.
12. Perverse speech is self-destructive
Those who persist in perverse speech deceive themselves that it benefits them. But Scripture warns that “there is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). Twisted words often do more harm to the speaker than to their targets.
Perverse speech also results in discipline from God, loss of influence and credibility, damaged relationships, and an increase in strife and trouble. Like a deadly fire, perversity spreads destruction (James 3:5-6). For our own good, we must reject it.
13. The tongue has great potential for both good and evil
James 3:5 describes the tongue as “a small member” of our bodies, but one with immense power. Just as a tiny rudder or bit in a horse’s mouth can control the whole animal, “so also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.”
Though small, the tongue’s capacity for both tremendous good and evil is astounding. It can glorify God and encourage others, or defile us and set our relationships on fire (James 3:9-10). Therefore, we must zealously guard our tongues.
14. Know that you’ll be held accountable for careless words
Jesus Himself warns that “on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matthew 12:36). Though we may be tempted to brush off gossip, lies, or hurtful speech as harmless, God considers them an affront to His holiness that demands justice.
Remembering that we will stand before the Lord to answer for each word should motivate us to reign in unrighteous speech. We cannot take sinful words lightly or as mere accidents.
15. Ask God to set a guard over your mouth
Since our perverse hearts constantly spew forth corrupt words, we desperately need God’s enabling grace to control our tongues. Knowing our frailty, we should regularly pray as David did:
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3)
Crying out to God for help in taming our tongues is essential. He alone can conquer our inborn tendency toward perverse speech and empower righteous living.
16. Perverse speech flows from a heart disconnected from God
In examining the source of perverse and deceitful speech, we find it stems from hearts alienated from God. As Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Our human nature is corrupted by sin.
Apart from the redeeming work of Christ, our hearts are “perverse” at the core. As unbelievers, we walk in darkness and naturally speak falsehood (1 John 1:6). Only through spiritual rebirth can our speech be healed.
17. We must confess and turn from twisted speech
For those struggling with perverse speech like lying, slander, or gossip, the path forward begins with repentance. 1 John 1:9 assures that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Bringing our crooked speech into the light through confession is essential. We must then actively resist temptations to speak deceitfully, asking God for empowering grace to walk uprightly.
18. Replace perversity with Christlike communication
Putting off perverse speech is only half the battle. We must also put on righteous, edifying speech that gives grace to others (Ephesians 4:29). Our communication should be seasoned with salt, full of grace, peaceable and reasonable (Colossians 4:6).
Studying how Jesus spoke and following His example will teach us to use words to serve, not defraud others. With the Spirit’s help, our speech can become more Christlike.
19. Perverse speech often disguises itself as harmless fun
One reason perverse speech is so prevalent is that it often masquerades as “all in good fun.” Jokes at another’s expense, “innocent” gossip, little exaggerations, and seemingly harmless half-truths can all reflect a twisted heart.
As Christians, we must heighten our sensitivity to speech that belittles others, damages reputations, or bends the truth – even when it’s passed off as meaningless fun. Such jesting is inappropriate among God’s people (Ephesians 5:4).
20. Focus your speech on honoring God and serving others
The key to overcoming perverse lips is learning to orient our speech around honoring God and serving others through our words. Ask yourself: How can I glorify God with this conversation? Does this build others up?
Measuring your communication against these standards will help avoid deceitful speech meant to exalt self. Let love for God and others guide your tongue.
Conclusion
In summary, perverse speech rooted in a deceitful heart is a grave sin that Scripture repeatedly warns against. But through God’s grace, our crooked tongues can be made straight and our lips taught to speak truth. By taking every thought captive, filling our hearts with Scripture, and relying on the Spirit, we can reflect Jesus through upright and edifying speech.