The water cooler conversations start innocently enough, but before long, they’ve morphed into dissecting someone’s personal life or questioning a colleague’s competence. You find yourself caught in the middle, uncomfortable but unsure how to gracefully exit without seeming judgmental or antisocial. Maybe you’ve been the target of workplace gossip yourself, watching rumors spread and relationships deteriorate based on half-truths and speculation.
Workplace gossip creates a toxic environment that destroys trust, damages reputations, and fractures teams. It’s one thing to process legitimate work concerns with a trusted colleague, but it’s entirely different when conversations become character assassinations or fishing expeditions for juicy details. The temptation to participate can be strong, especially when gossip feels like social bonding or insider information that keeps you “in the know.” The Bible offers clear guidance about the power of words and the responsibility we have to use them wisely. These verses can help you navigate office politics with integrity, protect yourself from becoming a gossip’s victim, and resist the urge to spread what you shouldn’t repeat.
Bible Verses About Dealing with Workplace Gossip
1. Proverbs 26:20 – Without Wood, a Fire Goes Out
Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
New International Version (NIV)
2. Ephesians 4:29 – Do Not Let Any Unwholesome Talk Come Out of Your Mouths
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3. Proverbs 11:13 – A Gossip Betrays a Confidence
A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
New King James Version (NKJV)
4. James 1:19 – Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.
New Living Translation (NLT)
5. Proverbs 18:8 – The Words of a Gossip Are Like Choice Morsels
A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
6. Matthew 12:36-37 – Every Careless Word
But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7. Proverbs 16:28 – A Perverse Person Stirs Up Conflict
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
King James Version (KJV)
8. 1 Timothy 5:13 – They Get Into the Habit of Being Idle and Going About
Besides that, they learn to be idle, going about from house to house, and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
9. Proverbs 20:19 – A Gossip Betrays a Confidence
Gossips can’t keep secrets, so never confide in blabbermouths.
The Message (MSG)
10. 2 Corinthians 12:20 – I Fear That There May Be Quarreling, Jealousy
For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
11. Proverbs 17:9 – Whoever Would Foster Love Covers Over an Offense
The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.
New English Translation (NET)
12. Titus 3:2 – Speak Evil of No One
Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13. Proverbs 21:23 – Those Who Guard Their Mouths and Their Tongues
If you want to stay out of trouble, be careful what you say.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
14. James 3:5-6 – The Tongue Is a Small Part of the Body
In the same way, the tongue is small, but it can speak big things. See how a big forest can be burned down by a little fire. The tongue is like a fire. It is a world of wrong among the parts of our bodies.
Good News Translation (GNT)
15. Psalm 34:13 – Keep Your Tongue from Evil
You must keep your tongue from saying evil things, and you must not tell lies.
New Century Version (NCV)
16. Proverbs 10:18 – Whoever Conceals Hatred with Lying Lips
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
International Standard Version (ISV)
17. 1 Peter 2:1 – Rid Yourselves of All Malice
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.
Tree of Life Version (TLV)
18. Proverbs 12:18 – The Words of the Reckless Pierce Like Swords
There is one who speaks rashly like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Lexham English Bible (LEB)
19. Romans 1:29 – They Have Become Filled with Every Kind of Wickedness
being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil dispositions; whisperers.
World English Bible (WEB)
20. Leviticus 19:16 – Do Not Go About Spreading Slander
Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am Jehovah.
American Standard Version (ASV)
21. Proverbs 6:16-19 – Six Things the Lord Hates
There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and a man who sows discord among brothers.
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
22. Matthew 18:15 – If Your Brother or Sister Sins
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.
New American Bible (NAB)
23. Proverbs 25:23 – Like a North Wind That Brings Unexpected Rain
The north wynde dryueth away rayne: so doth an angry countenaunce a backbytyng tongue.
Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB)
24. Colossians 4:6 – Let Your Speech Always Be Gracious
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
English Revised Version (ERV)
25. Proverbs 15:4 – The Soothing Tongue Is a Tree of Life
A healed tongue is a tree of life, And perverseness in it — a breach in the spirit.
Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
26. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 – Make It Your Ambition to Lead a Quiet Life
and to seek earnestly to be quiet and mind your own affairs, and work with your hands, even as we charged you.
Darby Translation (DARBY)
27. Proverbs 13:3 – Those Who Guard Their Lips Preserve Their Lives
He who guards his mouth keeps his life safe, but he who opens his lips wide will be destroyed.
Weymouth New Testament (WNT)
28. Ecclesiastes 10:20 – Do Not Revile the King Even in Your Thoughts
In thi conscience curse thou not the kyng, and in the priue place of thi bed-chaumber curse thou not a riche man; for the briddis of heuene schulen bere thi vois, and he that hath pennys, schal telle the sentence.
Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
29. 1 Corinthians 13:6 – Love Does Not Delight in Evil
Reioyceth not in iniquitie, but reioyceth in the trueth.
Geneva Bible (GNV)
30. Psalm 15:3 – Whose Tongue Utters No Slander
He that backbyteth not wyth hys tonge, nor doth euyll to hys neyghboure: and receaueth not a false reporte agaynste hys neyghboures.
Bishop’s Bible
31. Proverbs 27:5-6 – Better Is Open Rebuke Than Hidden Love
Open rebuke is better then secrete loue. Faythfull are the woundes of a louer: but the kysses of an enemye are disceatfull.
Tyndale Bible
32. James 4:11 – Brothers and Sisters, Do Not Slander One Another
Don’t criticize one another, dear brothers. If you do, you will be fighting against God’s law of loving one another, declaring it is wrong. But your job is not to decide whether this law is right or wrong, but to obey it.
The Living Bible (TLB)
33. Psalm 141:3 – Set a Guard Over My Mouth, Lord
God, place a watch over my mouth, keep guard at the door of my lips.
The Passion Translation (TPT)
34. Proverbs 29:20 – Do You See Someone Who Speaks in Haste?
Do you see people who speak without thinking first? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
The Voice Bible (VOICE)
35. 1 Peter 3:10 – Whoever Would Love Life and See Good Days
The Scripture says, “Do you want to enjoy life? Do you want to see many good days? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil. Keep your lips from telling lies.”
New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Workplace Gossip
Scripture treats gossip as a serious sin that destroys relationships and communities, not harmless small talk or innocent information sharing. The Bible consistently links gossip with other destructive behaviors like lying, slander, and stirring up conflict. What’s particularly striking is how often biblical warnings about gossip focus on the damage it does to the gossiper themselves, not just the targets.
The wisdom literature especially emphasizes that gossip reveals character flaws like untrustworthiness, lack of self-control, and disregard for others’ dignity. Proverbs repeatedly warns that people who can’t keep confidences will eventually find themselves isolated because others learn they can’t be trusted with sensitive information.
Biblical wisdom also distinguishes between legitimate concerns that need addressing and idle chatter that serves no constructive purpose. The Matthew 18 principle suggests that if you’re genuinely concerned about someone’s behavior, you should address it directly with them rather than discussing it with others. The Bible’s approach to workplace gossip isn’t about being prudish but about recognizing that words have power to build up or tear down, and we’re accountable for how we use that power.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, I confess that navigating workplace conversations can be challenging. Sometimes I find myself drawn into gossip without even realizing it, and other times I struggle with how to respond when others bring me information I probably shouldn’t hear.
Help me be wise about the words I speak and the conversations I engage in. When colleagues want to share gossip, give me the grace to redirect the conversation or politely excuse myself. Help me distinguish between legitimate workplace concerns that need addressing and idle chatter that serves no good purpose.
Guard my heart from the temptation to feel important because I’m “in the know” or to bond with others through talking about people who aren’t present. When I’m frustrated with a coworker, help me address issues directly and professionally rather than venting to others who can’t solve the problem.
Protect me from becoming the target of gossip myself, and if I am, help me respond with grace and wisdom. Use me to create a more positive workplace environment where people feel safe and valued rather than scrutinized and judged.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.