Secrets can affect relationships and trust. The Bible offers guidance on when it is wise to keep matters private and when truth and transparency are needed. These verses help us understand the balance between discretion and honesty.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Unfair Treatment
Bible Verses About Keeping Secrets
Proverbs 11:13 – Keeping secrets fosters trust and strengthens relationships
“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” – Proverbs 11:13
Proverbs 25:9-10 – It is honorable to keep secrets and not spread gossip
“If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence, or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.” – Proverbs 25:9-10
Proverbs 17:9 – Keeping a secret can promote love and forgiveness
“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.” – Proverbs 17:9
Ecclesiastes 3:7 – There is a time to keep secrets and a time to speak
“A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak.” – Ecclesiastes 3:7
Matthew 6:3-4 – Keeping acts of kindness a secret brings reward from God
“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:3-4
Matthew 12:36-37 – Our words will be judged, it is wise to guard our speech
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” – Matthew 12:36-37
Proverbs 10:19 – Wise people keep their tongues from spreading secrets
“Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” – Proverbs 10:19
James 1:19-20 – Be slow to speak and quick to listen, avoiding unnecessary disclosures
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” – James 1:19-20
Proverbs 21:23 – Guard your mouth and you will avoid calamity
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” – Proverbs 21:23
Proverbs 26:20 – Gossip can spread strife, so it’s better to avoid it
“Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.” – Proverbs 26:20
Proverbs 20:19 – A meddler may reveal secrets, avoid such people
“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.” – Proverbs 20:19
Proverbs 12:23 – A prudent person keeps knowledge to themselves
“The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly.” – Proverbs 12:23
1 Peter 4:8 – Love covers over a multitude of sins
“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8
Proverbs 19:11 – It is wise to overlook an offense and keep it to oneself
“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” – Proverbs 19:11
Psalm 101:5 – Guard your heart against those who have hidden motives
“Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate.” – Psalm 101:5
Proverbs 18:8 – Gossip is like tasty morsels, spreading everywhere
“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.” – Proverbs 18:8
Proverbs 16:28 – A whisperer separates close friends, so guard your secrets
“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” – Proverbs 16:28
Proverbs 10:18 – Lying lips conceal hatred, so be honest and truthful
“Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.” – Proverbs 10:18
Psalm 141:3 – Ask God to set a guard over your mouth and keep watch over your lips
“Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” – Psalm 141:3
Matthew 7:1-5 – Focus on your own faults and avoid judgment of others
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:1-5
Proverbs 13:3 – The one who guards their mouth preserves their life
“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.” – Proverbs 13:3
Proverbs 15:2 – Wise words and calm speech bring healing and promote understanding
“The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.” – Proverbs 15:2
Proverbs 12:18 – Reckless words can pierce like a sword, so choose your words wisely
“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” – Proverbs 12:18
Proverbs 11:9 – By speaking wisely and discreetly, you deliver yourself
“With their mouth the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.” – Proverbs 11:9
James 3:1-12 – The tongue has the power to bless or curse, so use it wisely
“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth, come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” – James 3:1-12
Proverbs 15:28 – Speak carefully and wisely to bring forth good things
“The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” – Proverbs 15:28
1 Timothy 5:13 – Pray that God will help you avoid idle talk and gossip
“Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.” – 1 Timothy 5:13
Psalm 19:14 – Let the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart be acceptable
“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14
Proverbs 13:5 – The righteous hate lies, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace
“The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.” – Proverbs 13:5
Proverbs 11:12 – Whoever brings a good report builds trust and fosters unity
“Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.” – Proverbs 11:12
Colossians 4:6 – Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” – Colossians 4:6
Proverbs 6:16-19 – The Lord hates a lying tongue and a false witness who spreads discord
“There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” – Proverbs 6:16-19
Proverbs 10:19 – When words are many, sin is not absent, so be mindful of your speech
“Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” – Proverbs 10:19
Proverbs 16:27 – A worthless person plots evil and spreads strife with their words
“A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.” – Proverbs 16:27
Proverbs 26:22 – The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, going deep into the heart
“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.” – Proverbs 26:22
Proverbs 17:27 – A person of understanding is one who has a calm spirit and holds back their words
“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.” – Proverbs 17:27
Proverbs 13:16 – A prudent person keeps their knowledge to themselves
“Every prudent person acts out of knowledge, but fools expose their folly.” – Proverbs 13:16
Proverbs 26:20 – Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a quarrel dies down
“Without wood, a fire goes out; without a gossip, a quarrel dies down.” – Proverbs 26:20
Proverbs 26:22 – The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels, and they go down into the inner parts of the body.
“The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.” – Proverbs 26:22
Proverbs 11:13 – Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
“Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.” – Proverbs 11:13
Ecclesiastes 10:20 – Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.
“Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich, for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.” – Ecclesiastes 10:20
Proverbs 20:19 – Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
“Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.” – Proverbs 20:19
Proverbs 5:2 – that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.
“that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.” – Proverbs 5:2
1 Peter 2:1 – So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” – 1 Peter 2:1
Titus 3:2 – to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
“to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” – Titus 3:2
Proverbs 18:7 – A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
“A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.” – Proverbs 18:7
James 4:11 – Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.” – James 4:11
Colossians 3:8 – But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” – Colossians 3:8
Matthew 12:34 – You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” – Matthew 12:34
Proverbs 13:16 – In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.
“In everything the prudent acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly.” – Proverbs 13:16
Proverbs 11:17 – A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
“A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.” – Proverbs 11:17
Proverbs 17:10 – A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
“A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.” – Proverbs 17:10
Proverbs 29:20 – Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
“Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” – Proverbs 29:20