There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Parallel translations
- WEB There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
- BSB Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- NKJV There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
- NASB There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- NLT Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.
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
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Our words can wound deeply or bring real healing.
Overview
The proverb vividly contrasts rash, cutting speech with the healing power of wise words. It reminds us that the tongue can inflict deep injury or restore. Believers are called to use words that build up and heal, in keeping with the grace that has healed them in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Prov 16:24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
- Prov 15:4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
- Ps 57:4My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
- Prov 10:20–21The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
- Ps 52:2Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
- Jas 3:6–8And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
- Prov 15:7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
- Dan 11:33And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
- Prov 25:18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
- Prov 13:17A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
- Prov 4:22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
- Ps 64:3Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
- Rev 1:16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
- Ps 59:7Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
- Rev 22:2In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
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 12:18 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
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.