Proverbs 13:3
1 A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.
He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
4 The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is fully satisfied.
5 The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.
- KJV
- He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
- WEB
- He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
- ASV
- He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; [But] he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
- DARBY
- He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul; destruction shall be to him that openeth wide his lips.
- BLB
- One guarding his mouth is keeping his soul; one opening his lips, destruction [is] unto him.
- ÅB
- Den som vokter sin munn, bevarer sitt liv; den som lukker sine lepper vidt opp, ham blir det til ulykke.
- OTB
- De som vokter sin munn bevarer sitt liv, men de som taler tankeløst går til grunne.
- B1930
- Den som vokter sin munn, bevarer sitt liv; den som lukker sine leber vidt op, ham blir det til ulykke.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
Read in contextProverbs 18:21
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Read in contextProverbs 18:7
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Read in contextJames 3:2–12
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.
Read in contextMatthew 12:36–37
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
Read in contextPsalms 39:1
I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.”
Read in contextProverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
Read in contextProverbs 20:19
He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
Read in context