Bitterness

Bitterness is lasting resentment or deep grief of heart. A root of bitterness is warned against, and kindness and forgiveness are to take its place.

Warnings against bitterness

• Ephesians 4:31
  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
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• Hebrews 12:15
  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;See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
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• Colossians 3:19
  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
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• James 3:14
  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.
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• Acts 8:23
  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and captive to iniquity.”
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Bitterness of soul

• Job 10:1
  My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul.
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• 1 Samuel 1:10
  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears.
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• Ruth 1:20
  And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.“Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me.
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• Proverbs 14:10
  The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares in its joy.
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Bitter speech

• Romans 3:14
  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
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• James 3:10-11
  ¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! ¹¹Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
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Forgiveness instead

• Ephesians 4:32
  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
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• Colossians 3:13
  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
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• Matthew 6:14-15
  ¹⁴For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.
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See also

• Anger
• Forgiveness
• Revenge
• Jealousy

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.