God’s Word Translation
Ecclesiastes 10:12
12A wise person’s words win favors, but a fool’s lips are self-destructive.
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 an ax is blunt and the edge isn’t sharpened, then one has to use more strength. But wisdom prepares the way for success. 11If a snake bites before it has been charmed, then there is no advantage in being a snake charmer. A wise person’s words win favors, but a fool’s lips are self-destructive. 13A fool starts out by talking foolishness and ends up saying crazy things that are dangerous. 14He never stops talking. No one knows what the future will bring, or what will happen after ⌞death⌟. Who can say!
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 4:3Certainly, you have instructed many people: When hands were weak, you made them strong.
- Job 16:5I could encourage you with my mouth, and my quivering lips could ease ⌞your pain⌟.
- Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous person reflects on wisdom. His tongue speaks what is fair.
- Psalms 40:9I will announce the good news of righteousness among those assembled for worship. I will not close my lips. You know that, O Lord.
- Psalms 71:15My mouth will tell about your righteousness, about your salvation all day long. Even then, it is more than I can understand.
- Proverbs 10:13Wisdom is found on the lips of a person who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of one without sense.
- Proverbs 12:13An evil person is trapped by his own sinful talk, but a righteous person escapes from trouble.
- Proverbs 15:2The tongues of wise people give good expression to knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out a flood of stupidity.
- Proverbs 16:21The person who is truly wise is called understanding, and speaking sweetly helps others learn.
- Proverbs 22:17Open your ears, and hear the words of wise people, and set your mind on the knowledge I give you.
- Proverbs 25:11⌞Like⌟ golden apples in silver settings, ⌞so⌟ is a word spoken at the right time.
- Proverbs 31:26“She speaks with wisdom, and on her tongue there is tender instruction.
- Matthew 12:35Good people do the good things that are in them. But evil people do the evil things that are in them.
- Luke 4:22All the people spoke well of him. They were amazed to hear the gracious words flowing from his lips. They said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
- Ephesians 4:29Don’t say anything that would hurt ⌞another person⌟. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.
- Colossians 4:6Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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