Ecclesiastes 10:12

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Ecclesiastes 10:10–14 · Berean Standard Bible

10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.

11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.

13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.

14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Job 4:3

Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.

Job 4:4

Your words have steadied those who stumbled; you have braced the knees that were buckling.

Job 16:5

But I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would bring relief.

Psalms 37:30

The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

Psalms 40:9

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.

Psalms 40:10

I have not covered up Your righteousness in my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and salvation; I have not concealed Your loving devotion and faithfulness from the great assembly.

Psalms 71:15

My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure.

Psalms 71:16

I will enter in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will proclaim Your righteousness—Yours alone.

Psalms 71:17

O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds.

Psalms 71:18

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.

Proverbs 10:13

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.

Proverbs 10:20

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.

Proverbs 10:21

The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.

Proverbs 10:31

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

Proverbs 10:32

The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

Proverbs 12:13

An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.

Proverbs 12:14

By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him.

Proverbs 12:18

Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 15:2

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.

Proverbs 15:23

A man takes joy in a fitting reply— and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.

Proverbs 16:22

Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.

Proverbs 16:23

The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Proverbs 16:24

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 22:17

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise— apply your mind to my knowledge—

Proverbs 22:18

for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.

Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Proverbs 25:12

Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

Proverbs 31:26

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Matthew 12:35

The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

Luke 4:22

All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.

Ephesians 4:29

Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

2 Samuel 1:16

For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

1 Kings 20:40

But while your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.” And the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you have pronounced it on yourself.”

1 Kings 20:41

Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.

1 Kings 20:42

And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”

Psalms 64:8

They will be made to stumble, their own tongues turned against them. All who see will shake their heads.

Psalms 140:9

May the heads of those who surround me be covered in the trouble their lips have caused.

Proverbs 10:8

A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.

Proverbs 10:10

He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.

Proverbs 10:14

The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.

Proverbs 18:6

A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.

Proverbs 18:7

A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

Proverbs 18:8

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

Proverbs 19:5

A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

Proverbs 26:9

Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Luke 19:22

His master replied, ‘You wicked servant, I will judge you by your own words. So you knew that I am a harsh man, withdrawing what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?