New King James Version
Proverbs 13:3
3He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 13:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
- New International Version (NIV)Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything.
Context of Proverbs 13:3
1A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. 2A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence. He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. 4The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. 5A righteous man hates lying, But a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.
Read all of Proverbs 13Proverbs 13:3 word by word
נֹצֵ֣ר פִּ֭יו שֹׁמֵ֣ר נַפְשׁ֑וֹ פֹּשֵׂ֥ק שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו מְחִתָּה־לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 13:3
- Proverbs 12:13The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, But the righteous will come through trouble.
- Proverbs 21:23Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
- Psalms 39:1I said, “I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me.”
- Matthew 12:36But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
- James 1:26If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
- James 3:2For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
Commentaries on Proverbs 13:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life - How often have the foolish, headstrong, and wicked, forfeited their lives by the treasonable or blasphemous words they have spoken! The government of the tongue is a rare but useful talent. But he that openeth wide his lips - He that puts no bounds to his loquacity, speaks on every subject, and gives his judgment and opinion on every matter. It has often been remarked that God has, given us two Eyes, that we…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 3Verse 3 He that thinks before he speaks, that suppresses evil if he have thought it, keeps his soul from a great deal both of guilt and grief. Many a one is ruined by an ungoverned tongue.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3Controlling what you say shows wisdom (see James 3:1–12).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. He ... mouth ... life--because evil speeches may provoke violence from others. he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction--On last clause, compare Pr 10:14.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 13:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 13
- 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries