From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive.
Parallel translations
- WEB The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
- KJV The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
- BSB The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
- NKJV The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds learning to his lips.
- NASB The heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips.
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
A wise heart guides the mouth and makes speech more persuasive. It matters because right thinking shapes right and effective speaking.
Overview
This proverb teaches that wise speech flows from a wise heart, which instructs the mouth and enhances its words. Words reveal and are governed by the inner person. Jesus affirms this, saying that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Prov 15:28The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
- Matt 12:34–35You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
- Prov 22:17–18Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.
- Col 3:16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
- 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.
- Ps 37:30–31The mouth of the righteous talks of wisdom. His tongue speaks justice.
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 16:23 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.