The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Parallel translations
- WEB The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.
- BSB The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
- NKJV The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
- NASB The tongue of the wise makes knowledge pleasant, But the mouth of fools spouts foolishness.
- NLT The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.
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 wise commend knowledge by their speech, while fools spill out folly. The tongue reveals the heart.
Overview
The wise person's words make knowledge attractive and fitting, whereas the fool's mouth gushes foolishness without restraint. The proverb ties the quality of one's speech to the wisdom or folly within. It anticipates Jesus' teaching that the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart (Luke 6:45).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 12:23A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
- Prov 15:28The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
- Prov 13:16Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
- Eccl 10:12–13The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
- Ps 45:1My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
- Prov 16:23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
- Prov 25:11–12A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
- Prov 15:23A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
- Isa 50:4The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
- Ps 59:7Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
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 15:2 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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