Verse 7

A time to tear and a time to mend; a time to be silent and a time to speak.

Other Translations

Referenced Verses

  • Amos 5:13 : 13 Therefore, the prudent person will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time.
  • Gen 37:29 : 29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.
  • Gen 37:34 : 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son for many days.
  • Gen 44:18 : 18 Then Judah stepped forward and said, "Please, my lord, let your servant speak a word in my lord's hearing, and do not be angry with your servant, for you are like Pharaoh."
  • Gen 44:34 : 34 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I could not bear to see the misery that would come upon my father.
  • 1 Sam 19:4-5 : 4 Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul, his father, saying, "The king should not sin against his servant David. He has done no wrong to you; on the contrary, his actions have greatly benefited you. 5 He risked his life to kill the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. So why would you sin by shedding innocent blood by killing David without cause?
  • 1 Sam 25:24-44 : 24 She fell at his feet and said, "My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you, and hear the words of your servant. 25 Please, my lord, pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal. He is exactly what his name suggests—his name means ‘fool,’ and folly goes with him. But I, your servant, did not see the men my lord sent. 26 Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, the Lord has kept you from shedding blood and avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies and those intent on harming my lord be as foolish as Nabal. 27 Now let this gift that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the offense of your servant, for the Lord will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because my lord fights the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. 29 Even though someone pursues you to take your life, the life of my lord will be securely bound in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. 30 When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord all the good things he promised and has appointed you ruler over Israel, 31 my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord has brought my lord success, remember your servant. 32 David said to Abigail, 'Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me. 33 Blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has prevented me from harming you, if you had not hurried to come to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning. 35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought to him and said, 'Go home in peace. See, I have listened to your words and granted your request.' 36 When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk, so she told him nothing at all until daybreak. 37 Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him, and he became like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died. 39 When David heard that Nabal had died, he said, 'Blessed be the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for insulting me, and has kept me, his servant, from wrongdoing. The Lord has brought Nabal’s wickedness upon his own head.' Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. 40 David’s servants went to Abigail at Carmel and said to her, 'David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife.' 41 Abigail got up, bowed with her face to the ground, and said, 'Here is your servant, ready to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.' 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey, accompanied by five of her young women as attendants. She followed David’s messengers and became his wife. 43 David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both women became his wives. 44 Meanwhile, Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti, son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
  • 2 Sam 1:11 : 11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.
  • 2 Sam 3:31 : 31 Then David said to Joab and all the people with him, 'Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn for Abner.' And King David himself walked behind the bier.
  • 1 Kgs 21:27 : 27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went about meekly.
  • 2 Kgs 5:7 : 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, 'Am I God, able to kill and bring to life, that this man sends someone to me to cure him of his leprosy? See for yourselves that he is seeking a quarrel with me!'
  • 2 Kgs 6:30 : 30 When the king heard the woman's words, he tore his clothes. As he was walking on the wall, the people saw that he was wearing sackcloth underneath, next to his skin.
  • Esth 4:13-14 : 13 he sent back this reply to her: ‘Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews.’ 14 If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows? Perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.
  • Esth 7:4 : 4 For my people and I have been sold to be destroyed, killed, and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as slaves, I would have remained silent, because no harm to the king would justify disturbing him in this way."
  • Job 2:13 : 13 Then they sat with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him because they saw how very great his suffering was.
  • Job 32:4-9 : 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he was. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no response in the mouths of the three men, his anger was aroused. 6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, "I am young in years, and you are old; therefore, I held back and was afraid to tell you what I think. 7 I thought, ‘Age should speak; let many years teach wisdom.’ 8 But it is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives understanding. 9 It is not merely the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. 10 Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I too will declare what I know.’ 11 I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words, 12 I paid close attention to you. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; not one of you has answered his arguments. 13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not a man, refute him.’ 14 But Job has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments. 15 They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have left them. 16 Should I wait, now that they are not speaking and they stand there without replying any longer? 17 I too will give my answer; I will express my opinion as well. 18 For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me. 19 Inside me, my heart is like wine that has no vent, ready to burst like new wineskins. 20 Let me speak so that I may find relief; let me open my lips and answer. 21 I will not show partiality to anyone, nor will I flatter any person. 22 For I do not know how to flatter; otherwise, my Maker would take me away swiftly.
  • Ps 39:2 : 2 I said, 'I will guard my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will keep a muzzle on my mouth while the wicked are in my presence.'
  • Prov 24:11-12 : 11 Rescue those being taken to death and hold back those stumbling toward slaughter, if you can. 12 If you say, 'We did not know about this,' won't the one who examines hearts perceive it? Won't the one who guards your soul know? He will repay everyone according to their deeds.
  • Prov 31:8-9 : 8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
  • Isa 36:21 : 21 But the people remained silent and did not answer him a word, because the king had commanded, 'Do not answer him.'
  • Jer 8:14 : 14 Why are we sitting here? Gather together, let us flee to the fortified cities and perish there! For the LORD our God has doomed us, giving us poisonous water to drink because we have sinned against him.
  • Jer 36:24 : 24 Neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words were afraid or tore their garments in sorrow.
  • Lam 3:28 : 28 Let him sit alone in silence, for the LORD has laid it upon him.
  • Joel 2:13 : 13 Tear open your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and he relents from sending calamity.
  • Amos 8:3 : 3 In that day, the songs of the temple will turn into wailing, declares the Lord God. Many corpses will lie everywhere; they will be cast out in silence.
  • Mic 7:5 : 5 Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a close friend. Guard the words of your mouth from her who lies in your embrace.
  • Luke 19:37-40 : 37 Now as he was approaching the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began, rejoicing, to praise God with loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. 38 They were saying, 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!' 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, 'Teacher, rebuke your disciples.' 40 He answered, 'I tell you, if they were silent, the stones would cry out.'
  • Acts 4:20 : 20 'For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.'
  • Acts 9:39 : 39 So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. All the widows stood around him weeping and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.