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Bible Verses About Self Control (27 Verses)

This collection has 27 Bible verses about self control: 8 from the Old Testament and 19 from the New Testament. Proverbs appears most often (7 verses), across 14 books of Scripture.

What does the Bible say about self control? Read 27 carefully selected Bible verses about self control, with full scripture text you can save, share, and study.

27 verses8 OT · 19 NTTop book: Proverbspersonal growth

Counts from this page's curated collection (14 books of Scripture).

27 Bible Verses About Self control

Translation:
self-control
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23WEB
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
Galatians 5:22-23KJV
self-control
"Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint."
Proverbs 25:28WEB
"He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls."
Proverbs 25:28KJV
self-control
"For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control."
2 Timothy 1:7WEB
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
2 Timothy 1:7KJV
self-control
"Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air, but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected."
1 Corinthians 9:25-27WEB
"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
1 Corinthians 9:25-27KJV
self-control
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age;"
Titus 2:11-12WEB
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;"
Titus 2:11-12KJV
self-control
"Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness;"
2 Peter 1:5-6WEB
"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;"
2 Peter 1:5-6KJV
self-control
"One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city."
Proverbs 16:32WEB
"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."
Proverbs 16:32KJV
self-control
"So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for the anger of man doesn’t produce the righteousness of God."
James 1:19-20WEB
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."
James 1:19-20KJV
self-control
"Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."
1 Peter 5:8WEB
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
1 Peter 5:8KJV
self-control
"But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer."
1 Peter 4:7WEB
"But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."
1 Peter 4:7KJV
self-control
"A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control."
Proverbs 29:11WEB
"A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards."
Proverbs 29:11KJV
self-control
"so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober."
1 Thessalonians 5:6WEB
"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."
1 Thessalonians 5:6KJV
self-control
"but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled;"
Titus 1:8WEB
"But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;"
Titus 1:8KJV
self-control
"Therefore prepare your minds for action, be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ—"
1 Peter 1:13WEB
"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"
1 Peter 1:13KJV
self-control
"He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding."
Proverbs 17:27WEB
"He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit."
Proverbs 17:27KJV
self-control
"Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God."
Romans 12:2WEB
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Romans 12:2KJV
self-control
"No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
1 Corinthians 10:13WEB
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
1 Corinthians 10:13KJV
self-control
"Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”"
Romans 12:19WEB
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
Romans 12:19KJV
self-control
"Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked."
Proverbs 25:26WEB
"A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring."
Proverbs 25:26KJV
self-control
"Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place, for all those who take the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I couldn’t ask my Father, and he would even now send me more than twelve legions of angels? How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?”"
Matthew 26:52-54WEB
"Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?"
Matthew 26:52-54KJV
self-control
“I made a covenant with my eyes, how then should I look lustfully at a young woman?
Job 31:1WEB
"I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?"
Job 31:1KJV
self-control
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matthew 5:38-39WEB
"Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
Matthew 5:38-39KJV
self-control
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit."
Proverbs 18:21WEB
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
Proverbs 18:21KJV
self-control
“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,
Ephesians 4:26WEB
"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:"
Ephesians 4:26KJV
self-control
"But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33WEB
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Matthew 6:33KJV
self-control
"A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent."
Proverbs 12:16WEB
"A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame."
Proverbs 12:16KJV
self-control
"Watch yourselves, that we don’t lose the things which we have accomplished, but that we receive a full reward."
2 John 1:8WEB
"Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward."
2 John 1:8KJV

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible and the King James Version (both public domain), checked word for word against the full text. Updated October 2, 2026.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Self control

What does the Bible say about self control?

This collection has 27 Bible verses about self control: 8 from the Old Testament and 19 from the New Testament. Proverbs appears most often (7 verses), across 14 books of Scripture. What does the Bible say about self control? Read 27 carefully selected Bible verses about self control, with full scripture text you can save, share, and study.

What are the best Bible verses about self control?

Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Proverbs 25:28: "Like a city that is broken down and without walls is a man whose spirit is without restraint." 2 Timothy 1:7: "For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." Full collection: 27 verses on this page (30% Old Testament, 70% New Testament).

How many Bible verses talk about self control?

This page collects 27 verses about self control from 14 books. Proverbs is the most frequent source (7 verses). Scripture touches the theme in many places; these are the ones readers look up most often for study and encouragement.

How can I memorize Bible verses about self control?

Start with one short verse from the list above. Save it with the heart icon, read it aloud once a day for a week, then add a second. Share a verse you are learning so it sticks.

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