There are many verses in the Bible that warn us to have self control…
And this is important because if you’re constantly giving in to your worldly desires, which could be many different things (too much food, lust, getting angry very easily, etc.)…
…then those desires really become your true masters, rather than God being your master.
It’s not always easy to control these desires, which is why praying for grace and self control is extremely important…
But it’s also important to remind ourselves of what the scriptures say on the topic as well…
So here are 62 Bible verses about self control to help you refocus your thoughts on the virtue of temperance, which God wants you to have.
Bible Verses – Self Control…
James 1:19
“You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger.”
Proverbs 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.”
Proverbs 12:16
“A fool immediately showeth his anger: but he that dissembleth injuries is wise.”
Proverbs 4:27
“Decline not to the right hand, nor to the left: turn away thy foot from evil. For the Lord knoweth the ways that are on the right hand: but those are perverse which are on the left hand. But he will make thy courses straight, he will bring forward thy ways in peace.”
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1 Peter 5:8-9
“Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist ye, strong in faith: knowing that the same affliction befalls your brethren who are in the world.”
1 Peter 4:7
“But the end of all is at hand. Be prudent therefore, and watch in prayers.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
“Let no temptation take hold on you, but such as is human. And God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able: but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it.”
1 Corinthians 7:4-5
“The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.”
Revelation 21:7
“He that shall overcome shall possess these things, and I will be his God; and he shall be my son.”
1 Corinthians 7:36-38
“But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured, with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will; he sinneth not, if she marry. For he that hath determined being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will; and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well. Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth better.”
Colossians 2:23
“Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in superstition and humility, and not sparing the body; not in any honour to the filling of the flesh.”
Titus 1:7-8
“For a bishop must be without crime, as the steward of God: not proud, not subject to anger, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre: But given to hospitality, gentle, sober, just, holy, continent”
Proverbs 13:3
“He that keepeth his mouth, keepeth his soul: but he that hath no guard on his speech shall meet with evils.”
Acts 24:25
“And as he treated of justice, and chastity, and of the judgment to come, Felix being terrified, answered: For this time, go thy way: but when I have a convenient time, I will send for thee.”
Proverbs 25:28
“As a city that lieth open and is not compassed with walls, so is a man that cannot refrain his own spirit in speaking.”
Proverbs 6:1-3
“My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, thou hast engaged fast thy hand to a stranger. Thou art ensnared with the words of thy mouth, and caught with thy own words. Do therefore, my son, what I say, and deliver thyself: because thou art fallen into the hand of thy neighbour. Run about, make haste, stir up thy friend”
Jeremiah 14:10
“Thus saith the Lord to his people, that have loved to move their feet, and have not rested, and have not pleased the Lord: He will now remember their iniquities, and visit their sins.”
1 Samuel 24:1-7
Then David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds of Engaddi. And when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, they told him, saying: Behold, David is in the desert of Engaddi. Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went out to seek after David, and his men, even upon the most craggy rocks, which are accessible only to wild goats.
And he came to the sheepcotes, which were in his way. And there was a cave, into which Saul went, to ease nature: now David and his men lay hid in the inner part of the cave. And the servants of David said to him: Behold the day, of which the Lord said to thee: I will deliver thy enemy unto thee, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good in thy eyes. Then David arose, and secretly cut off the hem of Saul’s robe.
After which David’s heart struck him, because he had cut off the hem of Saul’s robe. And he said to his men: The Lord be merciful unto me, that I may do no such thing to my master the Lord’s anointed, as to lay my hand upon him, because he is the Lord’s anointed.”
1 Corinthians 9:27
“But I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway.”
2 Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of sobriety.”
Luke 6:27-29
“But I say to you that hear: Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that calumniate you. And to him that striketh thee on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that taketh away from thee thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also.”
1 Corinthians 4:12-13
“And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it. We are blasphemed, and we entreat; we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all even until now.”
Proverbs 1:5
“ A wise man shall hear and shall be wiser: and he that understandeth, shall possess governments.”
2 Peter 2:12-14
“But these men, as irrational beasts, naturally tending to the snare and to destruction, blaspheming those things which they know not, shall perish in their corruption, Receiving the reward of their injustice, counting for a pleasure the delights of a day: stains and spots, sporting themselves to excess, rioting in their feasts with you: Having eyes full of adultery and of sin that ceaseth not: alluring unstable souls, having their heart exercised with covetousness, children of malediction”
Romans 6:12
“Let no sin therefore reign in your mortal body, so as to obey the lusts thereof.”
Ephesians 4:30-31
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God: whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and anger, and indignation, and clamour, and blasphemy, be put away from you, with all malice.”
Proverbs 29:18
“When prophecy shall fail, the people shall be scattered abroad: but he that keepeth the law is blessed.”
Proverbs 18:7
“The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.”
Proverbs 21:23
“He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress.”
2 Peter 1:5-7
“And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue; and in virtue, knowledge; And in knowledge, abstinence; and in abstinence, patience; and in patience, godliness; And in godliness, love of brotherhood; and in love of brotherhood, charity.”
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
“All things are lawful to me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful to me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meat for the belly, and the belly for the meats; but God shall destroy both it and them: but the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
Now God hath both raised up the Lord, and will raise us up also by his power. Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid.
Or know you not, that he who is joined to a harlot, is made one body? For they shall be, saith he, two in one flesh. But he who is joined to the Lord, is one spirit. Fly fornication. Every sin that a man doth, is without the body; but he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body. Or know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God; and you are not your own? For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body.” [source]
Psalm 141:3
“Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”
Genesis 39:7-12
“And after many days his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and said: Lie with me. But he, in no wise consenting to that wicked act, said to her: Behold, my master hath delivered all things to me, and knoweth not what he hath in his own house:
Neither is there any thing which is not in my power, or that he hath not delivered to me, but thee, who art his wife: how then can I do this wicked thing, and sin against my God? With such words as these day by day, both the woman was importunate with the young man, and he refused the adultery.
Now it happened on a certain day, that Joseph went into the house, and was doing some business without any, man with him: And she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Lie with me. But he leaving the garment in her hand, fled, and went out.” [source]
Proverbs 14:29
“He that is patient, is governed with much wisdom: but he that is impatient, exalteth his folly.”
Proverbs 29:11
“A fool uttereth all his mind: a wise man deferreth, and keepeth it till afterwards.”
1 Peter 2:18-23
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if committing sin, and being buffeted for it, you endure?
But if doing well you suffer patiently; this is thankworthy before God. For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not: but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly.”
1 Corinthians 9:25
“And every one that striveth for the mastery, refraineth himself from all things: and they indeed that they may receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one.”
1 Thessalonians 5:6
“Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch, and be sober.”
Titus 2:11-12
“For the grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men; Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world”
Romans 1:24-31
“Wherefore God gave them up to the desires of their heart, unto uncleanness, to dishonour their own bodies among themselves. Who changed the truth of God into a lie; and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature. And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one towards another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error.
And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness, full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers, Detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy.”
Ephesians 4:22
“To put off, according to former conversation, the old man, who is corrupted according to the desire of error.”
Mark 7:15
“There is nothing from without a man that entering into him, can defile him. But the things which come from a man, those are they that defile a man.”
Psalm 106:32-33
“They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.”
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all these things in him who strengtheneth me.”
Matthew 5:39-40
“But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other: And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him.”
Psalm 17:3
“Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.”
Matthew 27:27-30
“Then the soldiers of the governor taking Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band; And stripping him, they put a scarlet cloak about him. And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews. And spitting upon him, they took the reed, and struck his head.”
1 Timothy 3:2
“It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher”
Mark 14:61
“But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said to him: Art thou the Christ the Son of the blessed God?”
1 Peter 5:6-8
“Be you humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation: Casting all your care upon him, for he hath care of you. Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour.”
Isaiah 53:7
“He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not his mouth: he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth.”
2 John 1:8
“Look to yourselves, that you lose not the things which you have wrought: but that you may receive a full reward.”
Job 31:1
“I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.”
Romans 12:1-2
“I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing unto God, your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God.”
Titus 2:1-2
“But speak thou the things that become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, chaste, prudent, sound in faith, in love, in patience.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3-7
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from fornication; That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour: Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles that know not God: And that no man overreach, nor circumvent his brother in business: because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, as we have told you before, and have testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification.”
1 Corinthians 7:9
“But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.”
James 3:7-10
“For every nature of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of the rest, is tamed, and hath been tamed, by the nature of man: But the tongue no man can tame, an unquiet evil, full of deadly poison. By it we bless God and the Father: and by it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
1 Peter 2:18-23
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if committing sin, and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently; this is thankworthy before God.
For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, did not revile: when he suffered, he threatened not: but delivered himself to him that judged him unjustly.”
Proverbs 16:32
“The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.”
Galatians 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, Mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law.”
What To Do Next…
I hope these Bible verses were able to help you as you work to have greater self control…
And if you feel like you could use even more help, just click the button below that will help you the most…
Check em out, and God be with you as you work to have better self control.
