The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Parallel translations
- WEB The mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
- BSB The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
- 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 law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
- Eph 4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
- Prov 18:4The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
- Prov 10:20–21The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
- Prov 10:6Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
- Prov 15:7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
- Prov 16:22–24Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
- Prov 10:32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
- Ps 37:30–31The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
- Eccl 10:12–14The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
- Jas 3:5–8Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
- Matt 12:34–37O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
- Prov 20:15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
- Ps 107:42The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
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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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