Proverbs 15:4
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.
6 The house of the righteous has great treasure, but the income of the wicked is trouble.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
- KJV
- A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
- WEB
- A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
- ASV
- A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
- DARBY
- Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life; but crookedness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
- BLB
- A healing tongue [is] a tree of life, and crookedness in it is a breaking in the spirit.
- ÅB
- En saktmodig tunge er et livsens tre, men en falsk tunge sårer hjertet.
- OTB
- En lindrende tunge er et livets tre, men en vrang tunge knuser ånden.
- B1930
- En saktmodig tunge er et livsens tre, men en falsk tunge sårer hjertet.
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 12:18
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Read in contextProverbs 18:8
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
Read in contextProverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.
Read in contextMalachi 4:2
“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.
Read in contextProverbs 18:14
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
Read in contextRevelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
Read in contextPsalms 109:22
For I am poor and needy; my heart is wounded within me.
Read in context