Proverbs 16:23-24
Expanded Bible
23 Wise people’s ·minds [hearts] ·tell them what to say [L provide insight to their mouth],
and that ·helps them be better teachers [enhances their teaching].
24 Pleasant words are like ·a honeycomb [liquid honey],
·making people happy and healthy [L sweet to the taste and healing to the bones].
Proverbs 16:23-24
Amplified Bible
23
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth [in wisdom]
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body.
Proverbs 16:27
Expanded Bible
27 ·Useless [Worthless] people ·make evil plans [L dig up evil],
and their ·words [L lips] are like a burning fire.
Proverbs 16:27
Amplified Bible
27
A worthless man devises and digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like a scorching fire.
Proverbs 17:5
Expanded Bible
5 Whoever ·mistreats [ridicules; mocks] the poor insults their Maker;
whoever enjoys someone’s trouble will ·be punished [L not go unpunished].
Proverbs 17:5
Amplified Bible
5
Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker,
And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.(A)
Proverbs 17:7
Expanded Bible
7 ·Fools should not be proud [or It is not right for fools to be good speakers],
and ·rulers [honorable people] should not ·be liars [L have lying lips].
Proverbs 17:7
Amplified Bible
7
Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind],
Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.
Proverbs 17:9
Expanded Bible
9 ·Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend [L One who seeks love conceals an offense],
but ·gossiping about the sin [repeating a thing] breaks up friendships.
Proverbs 17:9
Amplified Bible
9
He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,
But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.
Proverbs 17:27-28
Expanded Bible
27 The wise ·say very little [restrain/hold back their talk],
and those with understanding stay ·calm [coolheaded].
28 Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet;
if they ·don’t speak [L keep their lips shut], they appear to understand.
Proverbs 17:27-28
Amplified Bible
27
He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words,
And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper).(A)
28
Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.
Proverbs 18:4
Expanded Bible
4 ·Spoken words [L The words of a person’s mouth] can be like deep water,
·but [or and] the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.
Proverbs 18:4
Amplified Bible
4
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];
The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].
Proverbs 18:13
Expanded Bible
13 Anyone who answers without listening
is foolish and ·confused [or a disgrace].
Proverbs 18:13
Amplified Bible
13
He who answers before he hears [the facts]—
It is folly and shame to him.(A)
Proverbs 18:17
Expanded Bible
17 The person who ·tells one side of [first tells] a story seems right,
until ·someone else [his friend/neighbor] comes and asks questions.
Proverbs 18:17
Amplified Bible
17
The first one to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and cross-examines him.
Proverbs 18:20-21
Expanded Bible
20 ·People will be rewarded for what they say [L From the fruit of the mouth of a person is their stomach satisfied];
·they will be rewarded by how they speak [L the yield/gain of their lips satisfies].
21 ·What you say can mean [L In the power of the tongue are] life or death.
Those who ·speak with care [love it] will ·be rewarded [L eat its fruit].
Proverbs 18:20-21
Amplified Bible
20
A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.
21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.(A)
Proverbs 20:3
Expanded Bible
3 Foolish people are always fighting,
but ·avoiding quarrels [backing away from an accusation] will bring you ·honor [glory; praise].
Proverbs 20:3
Amplified Bible
3
It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife [by handling situations with thoughtful foresight],
But any fool will [start a] quarrel [without regard for the consequences].
Proverbs 20:3
Expanded Bible
3 Foolish people are always fighting,
but ·avoiding quarrels [backing away from an accusation] will bring you ·honor [glory; praise].
Proverbs 20:3
Amplified Bible
3
It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife [by handling situations with thoughtful foresight],
But any fool will [start a] quarrel [without regard for the consequences].
Proverbs 22:11
Expanded Bible
11 Whoever loves pure ·thoughts [L hearts] and kind ·words [L lips]
will have even the king as a friend.
Proverbs 22:11
Amplified Bible
11
He who loves purity of heart
And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
