Tree of Life Version
Ecclesiastes 10:12
12Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but the lips of a fool destroy him.
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 the iron axe is blunt and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must exert more force. So wisdom has the advantage of giving success. 11If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but the lips of a fool destroy him. 13The words from his mouth begin as folly and end as grievous madness— 14and the fool multiplies words. No one knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will happen after him?
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 4:3Behold, you have instructed many; you have strengthened weak hands.
- Job 16:5But I would strengthen you with my mouth and comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
- Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom and his tongue speaks justice.
- Psalms 40:9I delight to do Your will, O my God. Yes, Your Torah is within my being.”
- Psalms 71:15My mouth will recount Your justice and Your salvation all day, though I do not know the sum of them.
- Proverbs 10:13Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one lacking sense.
- Proverbs 12:13An evil one is ensnared by the sin of lips, but the righteous one escapes trouble.
- Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of fools spouts folly.
- Proverbs 16:21The wise in heart is called discerning, and sweetness of lips increases persuasiveness.
- Proverbs 22:17Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge.
- Proverbs 25:11Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word aptly spoken.
- Proverbs 31:26She opens her mouth with wisdom— a lesson of kindness is on her tongue.
- Matthew 12:35The good man from his good treasury brings forth good, and the evil man from his evil treasury brings forth evil.
- Luke 4:22All were speaking well of Him and marveling at the gracious words coming out of His mouth. And they were saying, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”
- Ephesians 4:29Let no harmful word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for building others up according to the need, so that it gives grace to those who hear it.
- Colossians 4:6Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, to know how you ought 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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