Proverbs Chapter 15 verse 4 Holy Bible
A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
read chapter 15 in ASV
A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.
read chapter 15 in BBE
Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life; but crookedness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
read chapter 15 in DARBY
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
read chapter 15 in KJV
read chapter 15 in WBT
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, But deceit in it crushes the spirit.
read chapter 15 in WEB
A healed tongue `is' a tree of life, And perverseness in it -- a breach in the spirit.
read chapter 15 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 4. - A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; a tongue that brings healing, that soothes by its words. Septuagint, "the healing of the tongue." But the Vulgate rendering is better, lingua placabilis, "the gentle, mild tongue" (see on Proverbs 14:30). Speech from such a source refreshes and vivifies all who come under its influence, like the wholesome fruit of a prolific tree (comp. Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:30). Ψυχῆς νοσούσης ἐστὶ φάρμακον λόγος "The sick soul by a healing word is cured." But perverseness therein - in the tongue - is a breach in the spirit. The perverseness intended must be falsehood, perversion of the truth. This is ruin and vexation (Isaiah 65:14, where the same word is used) in the spirit, both in the liar himself, whose higher nature is thus terribly marred and spoiled, and in the case of his neighbour, who is injured by his slander and falsehood to the, very core. The LXX., with a different reading, translates, "But he who keepeth it [the tongue] shall be filled with the spirit."
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(4) A wholesome tongue.--One which heals and soothes by its gentleness and judicious words. (Comp. Proverbs 12:18.)A tree of life.--Comp. Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:30.Perverseness.--Distortion of the truth. (Comp. Proverbs 11:3.)A breach in the spirit--i.e., deeply wounds another's spirit. . . .
