23 (A)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (B)Gracious words are like (C)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and (D)health to the body.

Read full chapter

23 From a wise mind comes wise speech;
    the words of the wise are persuasive.

24 Kind words are like honey—
    sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Read full chapter

27 (A)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech[a] is like (B)a scorching fire.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:27 Hebrew what is on his lips

27 Scoundrels create trouble;
    their words are a destructive blaze.

Read full chapter

Whoever mocks the poor (A)insults his Maker;
    he who is (B)glad at calamity will not go (C)unpunished.

Read full chapter

Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
    those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.

Read full chapter

Fine speech is not (A)becoming to a fool;
    still less is (B)false speech to a prince.

Read full chapter

Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool;
    even less are lies fitting for a ruler.

Read full chapter

Whoever (A)covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter (B)separates close friends.

Read full chapter

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,
    but dwelling on it separates close friends.

Read full chapter

27 Whoever (A)restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool (B)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Read full chapter

27 A truly wise person uses few words;
    a person with understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
    with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

Read full chapter

The words of a man's mouth are (A)deep waters;
    the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Read full chapter

Wise words are like deep waters;
    wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.

Read full chapter

13 If one gives an answer (A)before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.

Read full chapter

13 Spouting off before listening to the facts
    is both shameful and foolish.

Read full chapter

17 The one who states his case first seems right,
    until the other comes and examines him.

Read full chapter

17 The first to speak in court sounds right—
    until the cross-examination begins.

Read full chapter

20 (A)From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
    he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21 (B)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Read full chapter

20 Wise words satisfy like a good meal;
    the right words bring satisfaction.

21 The tongue can bring death or life;
    those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Read full chapter

It is an honor for a man to (A)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.

Read full chapter

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
    only fools insist on quarreling.

Read full chapter

It is an honor for a man to (A)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.

Read full chapter

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
    only fools insist on quarreling.

Read full chapter

11 He who (A)loves purity of heart,
    and whose (B)speech is gracious, (C)will have the king as his friend.

Read full chapter

11 Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speech
    will have the king as a friend.

Read full chapter