Proverbs 16:23
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
- KJV
- The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
- WEB
- The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
- ASV
- The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.
- DARBY
- The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips increaseth learning.
- BLB
- The heart of the wise causes his mouth to act wisely, and upon his lips he increases learning.
- ÅB
- Den vises hjerte gjør hans munn forstandig og legger mere og mere lærdom på hans lepper.
- OTB
- De vises hjerte gjør deres munn klok, og deres lepper fremmer læring.
- B1930
- Den vises hjerte gjør hans munn forstandig og legger mere og mere lærdom på hans leber.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
Read in contextMatthew 12:34–35
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Read in contextProverbs 22:17–18
Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Read in contextColossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Read in contextPsalms 45:1
My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Read in contextPsalms 37:30–31
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
Read in context