Proverbs 10:21
19 When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.
The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
22 The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.
23 The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
- KJV
- The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
- WEB
- The lips of the righteous feed many, but the foolish die for lack of understanding.
- ASV
- The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
- DARBY
- The lips of a righteous [man] feed many; but fools die for want of understanding.
- BLB
- The lips of the righteous feed many, and fools die by lack of heart.
- ÅB
- Den rettferdiges lepper nærer mange, men dårer dør, fordi de er uten forstand.
- OTB
- De rettferdiges lepper gir næring til mange, men de som mangler fornuft går til grunne.
- B1930
- Den rettferdiges leber nærer mange, men dårer dør, fordi de er uten forstand.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
Read in contextProverbs 17:16
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
Read in contextMatthew 13:19
When anyone hears the message of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
Read in contextProverbs 1:29
For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
Read in contextJob 4:3–4
Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
Read in contextEcclesiastes 12:9–10
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
Read in contextProverbs 15:4
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Read in contextProverbs 5:12
and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
Read in context