Proverbs 12:18
16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
17 He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil, but the counselors of peace have joy.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- KJV
- There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
- WEB
- There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
- ASV
- There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.
- DARBY
- There is that babbleth like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health.
- BLB
- There is one speaking rashly like the thrusts of a sword, and the tongue of the wise ones [is] healing.
- ÅB
- Mange taler tankeløse ord, som stikker slik som sverd; men de vises tunge er legedom.
- OTB
- Hastige ord gjennomborer som sverd, men de vises tunge bringer helbredelse.
- B1930
- Mange taler tankeløse ord, som stikker likesom sverd; men de vises tunge er lægedom.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Read in contextProverbs 15:4
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Read in contextProverbs 10:20–21
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.
Read in contextPsalms 57:4
My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Read in contextJames 3:6–8
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.
Read in contextPsalms 52:2
Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
Read in contextProverbs 25:18
Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
Read in contextProverbs 15:7
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.
Read in context