The Ten Laws of Excellent Speech

1. Speak sparingly - Prov. 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
2. Speak only after thinking - Prov. 29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
3. Speak honestly - Prov. 12:17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
4. Speak with grace - Col. 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
5. Speak only acceptable words - Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
6. Speak appropriately - Prov. 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
7. Speak respectfully - 1 Tim. 5:1-2 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
8. Never speak evil of another - James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
9. Never praise yourself - Prov. 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
10. Speak the Gospel boldly - Rom. 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.