American Standard Version
Ecclesiastes 10:12
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Ecclesiastes 10:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
- New International Version (NIV)Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;
Context of Ecclesiastes 10:12
10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer. The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14A fool also multiplieth words: yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
Read all of Ecclesiastes 10Ecclesiastes 10:12 word by word
דִּבְרֵ֥י פִי־חָכָ֖ם חֵ֑ן וְשִׂפְת֥וֹת כְּסִ֖יל תְּבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:12
- Job 4:3Behold, thou hast instructed many, And thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
- Job 16:5But I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage your grief.
- Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom, And his tongue speaketh justice.
- Psalms 40:9I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Jehovah, thou knowest.
- Psalms 71:15My mouth shall tell of thy righteousness, Andof thy salvation all the day; For I know not the numbers thereof.
- Proverbs 10:13In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
- Proverbs 12:13In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man; But the righteous shall come out of trouble.
- Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
- Proverbs 16:21The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
- Proverbs 22:17Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
- Proverbs 25:11A word fitly spoken Islikeapples of gold in network of silver.
- Proverbs 31:26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.
- Matthew 12:35The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
- Luke 4:22And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
- Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.
- Colossians 4:6Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12The words of a wise man's mouth - Every thing that proceeds from him is decent and orderly, creditable to himself, and acceptable to those who hear him. But the lips of the fool, which speak every thing at random, and have no understanding to guide them, are not only not pleasant to others, but often destructive to himself.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 There is a practice in the East, of charming serpents by music. The babbler's tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison; and contradiction only makes it the more violent. We must find the way to keep him gentle. But by rash, unprincipled, or slanderous talk, he brings open or secret vengeance upon himself. Would we duly consider our own ignorance as to future events, it would cut off many idle words which we foolishly multiply. Fools…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Fools face ruin from making foolish promises, giving false testimony, and angering the wrong people (see 5:6; Proverbs 17:20; 18:6–7; 19:5, 9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. gracious--Thereby he takes precaution against sudden injury (Ec 10:11). swallow up himself--(Pr 10:8, 14, 21, 32; 12:13; 15:2; 22:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Ecclesiastes 10:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ecclesiastes 10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries