The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Parallel translations
- WEB The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
- KJV The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
- NKJV The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
- NASB The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
- NLT The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. Righteous speech gives life; wicked speech conceals harm.
Overview
The righteous person's words bring refreshment and life to others, like a life-giving spring, whereas the wicked's mouth hides violence. This highlights the immense power of the tongue for good or ill, a theme James later develops (James 3:5-10). Words that nourish and bless flow from a heart shaped by God's wisdom.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Prov 13:14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
- 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 18:4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
- Prov 10:20–21The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.
- Prov 10:6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
- Prov 15:7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
- Prov 16:22–24Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
- Prov 10:32The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
- Ps 37:30–31The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.
- Eccl 10:12–14The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
- Jas 3:5–8In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze.
- Matt 12:34–37You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
- Prov 20:15There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
- Ps 107:42The upright see and rejoice, and all iniquity shuts its mouth.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 10:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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