Ecclesiastes 10:12

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Words and Works of Wise Men and Fools The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 15:2 : 2 The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly.
  • Luke 4:22 : 22 All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They said,“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
  • Eph 4:29 : 29 You must let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for the building up of the one in need, that it would give grace to those who hear.
  • Col 4:6 : 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.
  • Luke 19:22 : 22 The king said to him,‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! So you knew, did you, that I was a severe man, withdrawing what I didn’t deposit and reaping what I didn’t sow?
  • Prov 15:23 : 23 A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time– how good it is!
  • Prov 16:21-24 : 21 The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness. 22 Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools. 23 A wise person’s heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words. 24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
  • Prov 18:6-8 : 6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging. 7 The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life. 8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; and they have gone down into the person’s innermost being.
  • Prov 19:5 : 5 A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will not escape punishment.
  • Prov 22:11 : 11 The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious– the king will be his friend.
  • Prov 22:17-18 : 17 The Sayings of the Wise Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my instruction. 18 For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips.
  • Prov 25:11-12 : 11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver, so is a word skillfully spoken. 12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.
  • Prov 26:9 : 9 Like a thorn has gone up into the hand of a drunkard, so a proverb has gone up into the mouth of a fool.
  • Prov 31:26 : 26 She has opened her mouth with wisdom, with loving instruction on her tongue.
  • Matt 12:35 : 35 The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury.
  • 2 Sam 1:16 : 16 David said to him,“Your blood be on your own head! Your own mouth has testified against you, saying‘I have put the LORD’s anointed to death.’”
  • 1 Kgs 20:40-42 : 40 Well, it just so happened that while your servant was doing this and that, he disappeared.” The king of Israel said to him,“Your punishment is already determined by your own testimony.” 41 The prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes and the king of Israel recognized he was one of the prophets. 42 The prophet then said to him,“This is what the LORD has said,‘Because you released a man I had determined should die, you will pay with your life and your people will suffer instead of his people.’”
  • Job 4:3-4 : 3 Look, you have instructed many; you have strengthened feeble hands. 4 Your words have supported those who stumbled, and you have strengthened the knees that gave way.
  • Job 16:5 : 5 But I would strengthen you with my words; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
  • Ps 37:30 : 30 The godly speak wise words and promote justice.
  • Ps 40:9-9 : 9 I have told the great assembly about your justice. Look! I spare no words! O LORD, you know this is true. 10 I have not failed to tell about your justice; I spoke about your reliability and deliverance; I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.
  • Ps 64:8 : 8 Their slander will bring about their demise. All who see them will shudder,
  • Ps 71:15-18 : 15 I will tell about your justice, and all day long proclaim your salvation, though I cannot fathom its full extent. 16 I will come and tell about the mighty acts of the Sovereign LORD. I will proclaim your justice– yours alone. 17 O God, you have taught me since I was young, and I am still declaring your amazing deeds. 18 Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power.
  • Ps 140:9 : 9 As for the heads of those who surround me– may the harm done by their lips overwhelm them!
  • Prov 10:8 : 8 The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.
  • Prov 10:10 : 10 The one who winks his eye causes trouble, and the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.
  • Prov 10:13-14 : 13 Wisdom is found in the words of the discerning person, but the one who lacks sense will be disciplined. 14 Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction.
  • Prov 10:20-21 : 20 What the righteous say is like the best silver, but what the wicked think is of little value. 21 The teaching of the righteous feeds many, but fools die for lack of sense.
  • Prov 10:31-32 : 31 The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing, but the speech of the wicked is perverse.
  • Prov 12:13-14 : 13 The evil person is ensnared by the transgression of his speech, but the righteous person escapes out of trouble. 14 A person will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of his hands will be rendered to him.
  • Prov 12:18 : 18 Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Prov 18:6-7
    2 verses
    84%

    6The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.

    7The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life.

  • Eccl 10:13-14
    2 verses
    84%

    13At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness,

    14yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?

  • Prov 10:14
    82%

    14Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction.

  • Prov 15:2
    82%

    2The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly.

  • Prov 14:3
    82%

    3In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them.

  • Prov 10:21
    81%

    21The teaching of the righteous feeds many, but fools die for lack of sense.

  • Prov 15:7
    80%

    7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.

  • Prov 29:11
    79%

    11A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

  • Prov 12:23
    79%

    23The shrewd person conceals knowledge, but foolish people proclaim folly.

  • Prov 10:8
    79%

    8The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

  • Prov 15:14
    79%

    14The discerning mind seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

  • Prov 23:8-9
    2 verses
    78%

    8you will vomit up the little bit you have eaten, and will have wasted your pleasant words.

    9Do not speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

  • Prov 16:21-23
    3 verses
    78%

    21The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness.

    22Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools.

    23A wise person’s heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words.

  • Prov 10:18-19
    2 verses
    78%

    18The one who conceals hatred utters lies, and the one who spreads slander is certainly a fool.

    19When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.

  • Prov 14:7-8
    2 verses
    77%

    7Walk abreast with a foolish person, and you do not understand wise counsel.

    8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

  • Prov 12:14-16
    3 verses
    77%

    14A person will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of his hands will be rendered to him.

    15The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.

    16A fool’s annoyance is known at once, but the prudent conceals dishonor.

  • Eccl 10:11
    77%

    11If the snake should bite before it is charmed, the snake charmer is in trouble.

  • Prov 10:31-32
    2 verses
    76%

    31The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed.

    32The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing, but the speech of the wicked is perverse.

  • Prov 13:16
    76%

    16Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

  • Prov 17:28
    76%

    28Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.

  • Prov 10:10-11
    2 verses
    75%

    10The one who winks his eye causes trouble, and the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

    11The speech of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the speech of the wicked conceals violence.

  • Prov 13:2-3
    2 verses
    75%

    2From the fruit of his speech a person eats good things, but the treacherous desire the fruit of violence.

    3The one who guards his words guards his life; whoever is talkative will come to ruin.

  • Prov 26:4-6
    3 verses
    75%

    4Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.

    5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own opinion.

    6Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence, so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.

  • Eccl 10:3
    75%

    3Even when a fool walks along the road he lacks sense, and shows everyone what a fool he is.

  • Prov 18:4
    75%

    4The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

  • Prov 24:7
    74%

    7Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth.

  • Prov 26:12
    74%

    12You have seen a man wise in his own opinion– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

  • Prov 18:2
    74%

    2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in disclosing what is on his mind.

  • Prov 29:20
    73%

    20You have seen someone who is hasty in his words– there is more hope for a fool than for him.

  • Prov 14:24
    73%

    24The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is folly.

  • Prov 19:1
    73%

    1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

  • Ps 36:3
    73%

    3The words he speaks are sinful and deceitful; he does not care about doing what is wise and right.

  • Prov 18:20
    73%

    20From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied, with the product of his lips he will be satisfied.

  • Prov 14:16
    73%

    16A wise person is cautious and turns from evil, but a fool throws off restraint and is overconfident.

  • Prov 17:24
    73%

    24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

  • Prov 21:23
    73%

    23The one who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his life from troubles.