New International Version
Ecclesiastes 10:12
12Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips.
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.
- 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;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Wise words bring approval, but fools are destroyed by their own words.
Context of Ecclesiastes 10:12
10If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success. 11If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee. Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. 13At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness— 14and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming— who can tell someone else what will happen after them?
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 4:3Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands.
- Job 16:5But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
- Psalms 37:30The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.
- Psalms 40:9I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.
- Psalms 71:15My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long— though I know not how to relate them all.
- Proverbs 10:13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
- Proverbs 12:13Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.
- Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
- Proverbs 16:21The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.
- Proverbs 22:17Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,
- Proverbs 25:11Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.
- Proverbs 31:26She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
- Matthew 12:35A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
- Luke 4:22All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.
- Ephesians 4:29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
- Colossians 4:6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may 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
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