EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Ecclesiastes 10:12
12People respect a wise person, because of the things that he says. But the words of a fool will destroy him.
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 your axe is not sharp, you will need to be very strong to use it. If you are wise, you will make the axe's edge sharp again. That is how wisdom helps you to do things well. 11Someone may have power over dangerous snakes. But that will not help him if the snake bites him first. People respect a wise person, because of the things that he says. But the words of a fool will destroy him. 13When a fool starts to speak, he says silly things. When he finishes, he is saying crazy things that are wicked. 14But he never stops talking. Nobody knows what will happen in the future. Nobody can tell us what will happen after we die.
Read all of Ecclesiastes 10Ecclesiastes 10:12 word by word
דִּבְרֵ֥י פִי־חָכָ֖ם חֵ֑ן וְשִׂפְת֥וֹת כְּסִ֖יל תְּבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ecclesiastes 10:12
- Job 4:3Listen! You have taught many people. You have helped weak people to be strong.
- Job 16:5But, instead, I would help you to be strong. I would say things to comfort you.
- Psalms 37:30Righteous people speak wise words. What they say brings justice.
- Psalms 40:9In the great meeting of your people, I have told them about your justice. I cannot keep quiet! You know that this is true, Lord.
- Psalms 71:15I will tell people that you always do what is right. I will always speak about your power to save people. But you have done more than I will ever know about!
- Proverbs 10:13People who understand what is right speak wise words. But silly people receive the punishment that they deserve.
- Proverbs 12:13The lies of evil people put them in trouble. But righteous people escape from trouble.
- Proverbs 15:2When wise people speak, they show that knowledge is good. But when fools speak, they only say foolish things.
- Proverbs 16:21If you have wise thoughts, people will say that you know what is right. If you speak kind words, people will accept your teaching.
- Proverbs 22:17Listen carefully. I will teach you what wise people have said. Think about the things that I am teaching you.
- Proverbs 25:11A wise word that you speak at the right time is a beautiful thing. It is like a gold apple on a silver plate.
- Proverbs 31:26When she speaks, she says wise words. She is kind as she teaches people what is right.
- Matthew 12:35It is like things that you bring out of a room where you keep them. The good man says good things because he keeps good thoughts in his mind. The bad man says bad things because he keeps bad thoughts in his mind.
- Luke 4:22Everyone was talking about Jesus. They were surprised at the good way in which he spoke. They said to each other, ‘We know that he is only Joseph's son.’
- Ephesians 4:29Do not say bad things that hurt or insult people. Instead, say only good things that will help people. Your words should help people to become strong when they hear them.
- Colossians 4:6When you speak to people, always speak kind words. Say things that will help them. Then, when someone asks you a question, you will know how to reply.
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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