Proverbs 18:21

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • 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.
  • Matt 12:35-37 : 35 The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury. 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
  • Col 4:6 : 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer everyone.
  • Prov 10:19-21 : 19 When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise. 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.
  • Jas 3:6-9 : 6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence– and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. 8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image.
  • Prov 10:31 : 31 The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed.
  • Prov 11:30 : 30 The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise.
  • Prov 13:2-3 : 2 From the fruit of his speech a person eats good things, but the treacherous desire the fruit of violence. 3 The one who guards his words guards his life; whoever is talkative will come to ruin.
  • Prov 18:4-7 : 4 The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook. 5 It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked, by depriving a righteous man of justice. 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.
  • Eccl 10:12-14 : 12 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. 13 At the beginning his words are foolish and at the end his talk is wicked madness, 14 yet a fool keeps on babbling. No one knows what will happen; who can tell him what will happen in the future?
  • Prov 12:13 : 13 The evil person is ensnared by the transgression of his speech, but the righteous person escapes out of trouble.
  • Isa 57:19 : 19 I am the one who gives them reason to celebrate. Complete prosperity is available both to those who are far away and those who are nearby,” says the LORD,“and I will heal them.
  • 2 Pet 2:18 : 18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.
  • Titus 1:10-11 : 10 For there are many rebellious people, idle talkers, and deceivers, especially those with Jewish connections, 11 who must be silenced because they mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught.
  • Rom 10:14-15 : 14 How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written,“How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.”
  • 2 Cor 2:16 : 16 to the latter an odor from death to death, but to the former a fragrance from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?
  • 2 Cor 11:15 : 15 Therefore it is not surprising his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will correspond to their actions.

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Prov 18:20
    83%

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

  • Prov 13:2-3
    2 verses
    79%

    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 15:4
    76%

    4Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse speech breaks the spirit.

  • Prov 12:14
    75%

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

  • Prov 21:23
    74%

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

  • Prov 18:22
    74%

    22The one who has found a good wife has found what goodness is, and obtained a delightful gift from the LORD.

  • Prov 21:6
    73%

    6Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth; they seek death.

  • Prov 22:18
    72%

    18For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips.

  • Prov 12:18
    72%

    18Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.

  • Prov 4:22-23
    2 verses
    72%

    22for they are life to those who find them and healing to one’s entire body.

    23Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.

  • Prov 10:19-21
    3 verses
    72%

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

    20What the righteous say is like the best silver, but what the wicked think is of little value.

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

  • Prov 15:23
    71%

    23A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time– how good it is!

  • 1 Pet 3:10
    71%

    10For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.

  • Prov 17:20
    71%

    20The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.

  • Prov 16:23-25
    3 verses
    71%

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

    24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

    25There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death.

  • Prov 10:31
    71%

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

  • Prov 18:4
    71%

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

  • Prov 11:30
    70%

    30The fruit of the righteous is like a tree producing life, and the one who wins souls is wise.

  • Prov 16:21
    70%

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

  • Prov 10:11
    70%

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

  • Prov 18:7
    70%

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

  • Eccl 10:12
    70%

    12Words 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.

  • Prov 16:1
    70%

    1The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD.

  • Job 5:21
    70%

    21You will be protected from malicious gossip, and will not be afraid of the destruction when it comes.

  • Prov 23:8
    70%

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

  • Ps 50:19
    69%

    19You do damage with words, and use your tongue to deceive.

  • Prov 3:18
    69%

    18She is like a tree of life to those who grasp onto her, and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed.

  • Ps 34:13
    69%

    13Then make sure you don’t speak evil words or use deceptive speech!

  • Prov 11:19
    69%

    19True righteousness leads to life, but the one who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

  • Prov 8:35-36
    2 verses
    69%

    35For the one who finds me has found life and received favor from the LORD.

    36But the one who misses me brings harm to himself; all who hate me love death."

  • Matt 15:18
    69%

    18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a person.

  • Prov 26:28
    69%

    28A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

  • Prov 15:2
    69%

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

  • Luke 6:45
    69%

    45The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.

  • Prov 16:13
    69%

    13The delight of a king is righteous counsel, and he will love the one who speaks uprightly.

  • Rom 3:14
    69%

    14“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

  • Jas 3:6
    69%

    6And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence– and is set on fire by hell.

  • Ps 52:4
    69%

    4You love to use all the words that destroy, and the tongue that deceives.

  • Matt 12:36
    69%

    36I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak.

  • Jas 3:10
    69%

    10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters.

  • Ps 37:30
    69%

    30The godly speak wise words and promote justice.

  • Jas 3:8
    68%

    8But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.