Ecclesiastes 10:12

10 If the ax is dull,
And one does not sharpen the edge,
Then he must use more strength;
But wisdom¹ brings success.

11 A serpent may bite ^awhen it is not charmed;
The¹ babbler is no different.

12 ^aThe words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,
But ^bthe lips of a fool shall swallow him up;

13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness,
And the end of his talk is raving madness.

14 ^aA fool also multiplies words.
No man knows what is to be;
Who can tell him ^bwhat will be after him?

15 The labor of fools wearies them,
For they do not even know how to go to the city!

16 ^aWoe to you, O land, when your king is a child,
And your princes feast in the morning!

17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles,
And your ^aprinces feast at the proper time—
For strength and not for drunkenness!

18 Because of laziness the¹ building decays,
And ^athrough idleness of hands the house leaks.

19 A feast is made for laughter,
And ^awine makes merry;
But money answers everything.

20 ^aDo not curse the king, even in your thought;
Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom;
For a bird of the air may carry your voice,
And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

Verse Comparison: Ecclesiastes 10:12

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American Standard Version
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

Amplified® Bible
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious {and} win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

Contemporary English Version
If you talk sensibly, you will have friends; if you talk foolishly, you will destroy yourself.

Darby English Version
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.

Good News Bible
What the wise say brings them honor, but fools are destroyed by their own words.

King James Version
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

New American Standard Bible
Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;

New International Version
Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious,
but a fool is consumed by his own lips.

New King James Version
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious,
But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up;

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
Words from the mouth of a wise man have graciousness, while the lips of a fool consume him;

Revised Standard Version
The words of a wise man's mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him.

Young's Literal Translation
Words of the mouth of the wise `are' gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.

New English Translation
The words of a wise person¹ win him² favor,³ but the words⁴ of a fool are self-destructive.⁵

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