Darby Bible
Ecclesiastes 10:12
12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool 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 apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success. 11If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage. The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself. 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. 14And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will 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 16:5[But] I would encourage you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips should assuage [your pain].
- Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous proffereth wisdom, and his tongue speaketh judgment;
- Psalms 40:9I have published righteousness in the great congregation: behold, I have not withheld my lips, Jehovah, thou knowest.
- Psalms 71:15My mouth shall declare thy righteousness, [and] thy salvation all the day: for I know not the numbers [thereof].
- Proverbs 10:13In the lips of an intelligent [man] 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 an evil snare; but a righteous [man] shall go forth out of trouble.
- Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright; but the mouth of the foolish poureth out folly.
- Proverbs 16:21The wise in heart is called intelligent, 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 25:11[As] apples of gold in pictures of silver, is a word spoken in season.
- Proverbs 31:26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and upon her tongue is the law of kindness.
- Matthew 12:35The good man out of the good treasure brings forth good things; and the wicked man out of the wicked treasure brings forth wicked things.
- Luke 4:22And all bore witness to him, and wondered at the words of grace which were coming out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this the son of Joseph?
- Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt word go out of your mouth, but if [there be] any good one for needful edification, that it may give grace to those that hear [it].
- Colossians 4:6[Let] your word [be] always with grace, seasoned with salt, [so as] to 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
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Commentaries