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Selected Verse: Ecclesiates 10:12 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Ec 10:12 |
King James |
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
gracious--Thereby he takes precaution against sudden injury (Ecc 10:11).
swallow up himself-- (Pro 10:8, Pro 10:14, Pro 10:21, Pro 10:32; Pro 12:13; Pro 15:2; Pro 22:11). |
Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
"The words of a wise man's mouth are grace; but the lips of a fool swallow him up." The words from a wise man's mouth are חן, graciousness, i.e., gracious in their contents, their form and manner of utterance, and thus also they gain favour, affection, approbation, for culture (education) produces favour, Pro 13:15, and its lips grace (pleasantness), which has so wide an influence that he can call a king his friend, Pro 22:11, although, according to Ecc 9:11, that does not always so happen as is to be expected. The lips of a fool, on the contrary, swallow him, i.e., lead him to destruction. The Pih. בּלּע, which at Pro 19:28 means to swallow down, and at Pro 21:20 to swallow = to consume in luxury, to spend dissolutely, has here the metaphorical meaning of to destroy, to take out of the way (for that which is swallowed up disappears). שׂפתות is parallel form to שׂפתי, like the Aram. ספות. The construction is, as at Pro 14:3, "the lips of the wise תשׁם preserve them;" the idea of unity, in the conception of the lips as an instrument of speech, prevails over the idea of plurality. The words of the wise are heart-winning, and those of the fool self-destructive. This is verified in the following verse. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Gracious - Procure him favour with those who hear him. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
The words of a wise man's mouth - Every thing that proceeds from him is decent and orderly, creditable to himself, and acceptable to those who hear him. But the lips of the fool, which speak every thing at random, and have no understanding to guide them, are not only not pleasant to others, but often destructive to himself. |
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.