He who (A)corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man gets [a]insults for himself.
(B)Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
(C)Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Teach a righteous man and he will (D)increase his learning.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 9:7 Lit a blemish

10 He (A)who winks the eye causes trouble,
And [a](B)a babbling fool will be [b]ruined.
11 The (C)mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But (D)the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:10 Lit the foolish of lips
  2. Proverbs 10:10 Lit thrust down

13 On (A)the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But (B)a rod is for the back of him who lacks [a]understanding.
14 Wise men (C)store up knowledge,
But with (D)the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Lit heart

13 On (A)the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But (B)a rod is for the back of him who lacks [a]understanding.
14 Wise men (C)store up knowledge,
But with (D)the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 10:13 Lit heart

13 He (A)who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is [a]trustworthy (B)conceals a matter.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:13 Lit faithful of spirit

13 [a]An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the (A)righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A man will be (B)satisfied with good by the fruit of his [b]words,
And the (C)deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:13 Lit In the transgression of the lips is an evil snare
  2. Proverbs 12:14 Lit mouth

16 A (A)fool’s anger is known at once,
But a prudent man conceals dishonor.
17 He who [a]speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who (B)speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the (C)tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a (D)lying tongue is only for a moment.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:17 Lit breathes

22 (A)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A (B)prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims folly.

Read full chapter

25 (A)Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a (B)good word makes it glad.

Read full chapter

From the fruit of a man’s mouth he [a](A)enjoys good,
But the [b]desire of the treacherous is (B)violence.
The one who (C)guards his mouth preserves his life;
The one who (D)opens wide his lips [c]comes to ruin.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 13:2 Lit eats
  2. Proverbs 13:2 Lit soul
  3. Proverbs 13:3 Lit ruin is his

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod [a]for his back,
But (A)the lips of the wise will protect them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:3 Lit of pride

A (A)trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a (B)false witness [a](C)utters lies.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 14:5 Lit breathes out

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

15 A (A)gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a [a](B)harsh word stirs up anger.
The (C)tongue of the wise makes knowledge [b]acceptable,
But the (D)mouth of fools spouts folly.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:1 Lit painful
  2. Proverbs 15:2 Lit good

A [a]soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion in it [b]crushes the spirit.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:4 Lit healing
  2. Proverbs 15:4 Lit is the crushing of the spirit

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.

Read full chapter

23 A (A)man has joy in an [a]apt answer,
And how delightful is a timely (B)word!

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 15:23 Lit answer of his mouth

26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
But pleasant words are pure.

Read full chapter

28 The heart of the righteous (A)ponders how to answer,
But the (B)mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

Read full chapter

Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

16 The (A)plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Read full chapter

10 A divine (A)decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [a]err in judgment.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:10 Lit be unfaithful

13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.

Read full chapter

21 The (A)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [a]speech (B)increases [b]persuasiveness.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:21 Lit lips
  2. Proverbs 16:21 Or learning

23 The (A)heart of the wise instructs his mouth
And adds [a]persuasiveness to his lips.
24 (B)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and (C)healing to the bones.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:23 Or learning

27 A (A)worthless man digs up evil,
While [a]his words are like (B)scorching fire.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:27 Lit on his lips

He who mocks the (A)poor taunts his Maker;
He who (B)rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

Read full chapter