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Blessings are on the head of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God],
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

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Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
    but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:6 Or righteous, / but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence


The wise in heart [are willing to learn so they] will accept and obey commands (instruction),
But the babbling fool [who is arrogant and thinks himself wise] will come to ruin.

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The wise in heart accept commands,
    but a chattering fool comes to ruin.(A)

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10 
He who [maliciously] winks the eye [of evil intent] causes trouble;
And the babbling fool [who is arrogant and thinks himself wise] will come to ruin.
11 
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life and his words of wisdom are a source of blessing,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence and evil.

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10 Whoever winks maliciously(A) causes grief,
    and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,(B)
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(C)

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14 
Wise men store up and treasure knowledge [in mind and heart],
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

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14 The wise store up knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.(B)

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With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge and discernment the righteous will be rescued.

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With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(A)

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The [malevolent] words of the wicked lie in wait for [innocent] blood [to slander],
But the mouth of the upright will rescue and protect them.

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The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(A)

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In the mouth of the [arrogant] [a]fool [who rejects God] is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise [when they speak with godly wisdom] will protect them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 See note 1:7.

A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,(A)
    but the lips of the wise protect them.(B)

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The tongue of the wise speaks knowledge that is pleasing and acceptable,
But the [babbling] mouth of fools spouts folly.

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The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,(A)
    but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.(B)

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The lips of the wise spread knowledge [sifting it as chaff from the grain];
But the hearts of [shortsighted] fools are not so.

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The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(A)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

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The lips of the wise spread knowledge [sifting it as chaff from the grain];
But the hearts of [shortsighted] fools are not so.

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The lips of the wise spread knowledge,(A)
    but the hearts of fools are not upright.

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23 
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth [in wisdom]
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

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23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,(A)
    and their lips promote instruction.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive


A fool’s lips bring contention and strife,
And his mouth invites a beating.

A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.

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The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(A)

The mouths of fools are their undoing,
    and their lips are a snare(B) to their very lives.(C)

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On Life and Conduct

19 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than a [rich] man who is twisted in his speech and is a [shortsighted] fool.

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19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)

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