Proverbs 18:4
2 A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3 With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6 A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
- KJV
- The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
- WEB
- The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
- ASV
- The words of a man`s mouth are [as] deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is [as] a flowing brook.
- DARBY
- The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, [and] the fountain of wisdom is a gushing brook.
- BLB
- The words of the mouth of a man [are] deep waters; the fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
- ÅB
- Ordene i en manns munn er dype vann, visdoms kilde er en fremvellende bekk.
- OTB
- Ordene fra en persons munn er dype vann; visdommens kilde er en rennende bekk.
- B1930
- Ordene i en manns munn er dype vann, visdoms kilde er en fremvellende bekk.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 20:5
The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
Read in contextProverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Read in contextColossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Read in contextJohn 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
Read in contextProverbs 13:14
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.
Read in contextJohn 7:38–39
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”
Read in contextColossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Read in contextMatthew 12:34
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Read in context