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Scripture · Old Testament

Proverbs 18:21

Proverbs 18:21 is verse 21 of Proverbs chapter 18, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.

Berean Standard Bible

Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

BSB source and public domain terms

King James Version

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

World English Bible

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

Read in context

Proverbs 18:19–23 · Berean Standard Bible

19 An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.

20 From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.

23 The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.

Read all of Proverbs 18

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.

Proverbs 18:4

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Proverbs 18:5

Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.

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 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 11:30

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

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.

Matthew 12:36

But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

Matthew 12:37

For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Romans 10:14

How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?

Romans 10:15

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

2 Corinthians 2:16

To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life. And who is qualified for such a task?

2 Corinthians 11:15

It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

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.

Titus 1:10

For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,

Titus 1:11

who must be silenced. For the sake of dishonorable gain, they undermine entire households and teach things they should not.

James 3:6

The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

James 3:7

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,

James 3:8

but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:9

With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

2 Peter 2:18

With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.

Proverbs 10:19

When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Ecclesiastes 10:12

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

Ecclesiastes 10:13

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

Ecclesiastes 10:14

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

Isaiah 57:19

bringing praise to their lips. Peace, peace to those far and near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal them.”

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