Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 verse 12 Holy Bible
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
read chapter 10 in ASV
The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.
read chapter 10 in BBE
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.
read chapter 10 in DARBY
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
read chapter 10 in KJV
read chapter 10 in WBT
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
read chapter 10 in WEB
Words of the mouth of the wise `are' gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
read chapter 10 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 12-15. - Section 14. The mention of "the master of the tongue" in ver. 11 leads the author to introduce some maxims concerned with the contrast between the words and acts of the wise, and the worthless prating and useless labors of the fool. Verse 12. - The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; literally, are grace (χάρις, Septuagint); i.e. they net only are pleasing in form and manner, but they conciliate favor, produce approbation and good will, convince and, what is more, persuade. So of our blessed Lord it was said, "All bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words (τοῖς λόγοις τῆς χάριτος) which proceeded out of his mouth" (Luke 4:22; cutup. Psalm 45:2). In distinction from the unready man, who, like the snake-charmer in the preceding verse, suffers-by reason of his untimely silence, the wise man uses his speech opportunely and to good purpose. (A different result is given in Ecclesiastes 9:11.) But the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. This is a stronger ex-prosaic, than "ruin" or "destroy." Speaking without due forethought, he compromises himself] says what he has shamefully to withdraw, and brings punishment on his own head (cutup. Proverbs 10:8, 21; Proverbs 18:7). Ῥῆμα παρὰ καιρὸν ῤιφθὲν ἀνατρέπει βίον. "Untimely speech has ruined many a life."
