English Standard Version
Proverbs 10:21
21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.
Proverbs 10:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
- New International Version (NIV)The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.
Context of Proverbs 10:21
19When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. 20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. 22The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. 23Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.
Read all of Proverbs 10Proverbs 10:21 word by word
שִׂפְתֵ֣י צַ֭דִּיק יִרְע֣וּ רַבִּ֑ים וֶֽ֝אֱוִילִ֗ים בַּחֲסַר־לֵ֥ב יָמֽוּתוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 10:21
- Proverbs 12:18There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Proverbs 15:4A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
- Job 4:3Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.
- Job 23:12I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
- Job 29:21"Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel.
- Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
- Ecclesiastes 12:9Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care.
- Jeremiah 3:15"'And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
- Jeremiah 15:16Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
- John 21:15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
- 1 Peter 5:2shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
- Proverbs 1:29Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
- Proverbs 5:12and you say, "How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
- Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
- Matthew 13:19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.
- John 3:19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
Commentaries on Proverbs 10:21
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Feed - The Hebrew word, like ́ poimainein includes the idea of guiding as well as nourishing; doing a shepherd‘s work in both. For want of wisdom - Some prefer, through him who wanteth understanding, referring to a person. The wise guides others to safety; the fool, empty-headed, and empty-hearted, involves others like himself in destruction.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-21Verses 20-21 The tongue of the just is sincere, freed from the dross of guile and evil design. Pious discourse is spiritual food to the needy. Fools die for want of a heart, so the word is; for want of thought.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Fools not only fail to benefit others, as do the righteous, but procure their own ruin (compare Pr 10:11, 17; Ho 4:6).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 10:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 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
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries