Ecclesiastes 10:12

The words of the wise are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips. Speech reveals and shapes one's character, for good or ruin.

Cross-references · 31

• Col 4:6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
• Luke 4:22All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.
• Prov 22:11He who loves a pure heart and gracious lips will have the king for a friend.
• Prov 15:2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
• Eph 4:29Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
• Prov 10:20–21The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.
• Prov 10:13–14Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
• Prov 10:31–32The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
• Prov 22:17–18Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—
• Job 4:3–4Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
• Prov 10:8A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.
• Prov 19:5A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
• Prov 25:11–12A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
• Job 16:5But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.
• Prov 16:21–24The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
• Ps 64:8They will be made to stumble, their own tongues turned against them. All who see will shake their heads.
• Prov 26:9Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
• Matt 12:35The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.
• Prov 12:18Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
• Prov 10:10He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.
• Ps 37:30The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
• Prov 12:13–14An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.
• Prov 31:26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
• Prov 18:6–8A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
• Ps 140:9May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.
• 1 Kgs 20:40–42But while your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you have pronounced it on yourself.”
• Ps 71:15–18My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure.
• 2 Sam 1:16For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”
• Prov 15:23A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!
• Ps 40:9–10I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.
• Luke 19:22His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.