New King James Version
Proverbs 10:21
21The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.
- 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
19In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. 20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; The heart of the wicked is worth little. The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom. 22The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it. 23To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.
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 who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
- Proverbs 15:4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
- Job 4:3Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened 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 necessary food.
- Job 29:21“Men listened to me and waited, And kept silence for my counsel.
- Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom, And his tongue talks of justice.
- Ecclesiastes 12:9And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.
- Jeremiah 3:15And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.
- Jeremiah 15:16Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
- John 21:15So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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 which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
- Proverbs 1:29Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord,
- Proverbs 5:12And say: “How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised correction!
- Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because 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, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
- John 3:19And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries