"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." - James 1:26 KJV (Another translation: “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.”)

"Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

“For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be." - James 3:5-10 KJV

The Bible speaks of backbiters (backstabbers/slanderers), whisperers (gossipers), murmurers (grumblers), complainers, false accusers, despisers of those that are good, traitors, tattlers, busybodies, going from house to house, speaking things which they ought not.

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;" - Hebrews 12:15 KJV

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." - Matthew 10:16 KJV

The devil will use people to try and trick you into their conversation to cause you to feel compelled to tell the rest of the story or the other side when they are accusing others or are gossiping. But we are not ignorant of his devices.

Just as we allow God to take control of our tongue when we speak in other tongues, we can pray, submit to Jesus, and allow Him to take control of our tongue to be silent in the face of evil talk and to speak the right words at the right time.

"For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." - Matthew 10:20 KJV

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." - Proverbs 18:21 KJV (Another translation: “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”)

"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." - Proverbs 21:23 KJV

"Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth." - Proverbs 26:20 KJV

"For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:" - 1 Peter 3:10 KJV