The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness.
Parallel translations
- WEB The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.
- KJV The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
- 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.
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 keeps his knowledge, but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.
- Prov 15:28The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
- Prov 13:16Every prudent man acts from knowledge, but a fool exposes folly.
- Eccl 10:12–13The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
- Ps 45:1For the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lilies.” A contemplation by the sons of Korah. A wedding song. My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
- Prov 16:23The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
- Prov 25:11–12A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
- Prov 15:23Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
- Isa 50:4The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary. He wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
- Ps 59:7Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For”, they say, “who hears us?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
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.