Ecclesiastes 10:12

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

דִּבְרֵ֥י פִי־חָכָ֖ם חֵ֑ן וְשִׂפְת֥וֹת כְּסִ֖יל תְּבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃

Transliteration

dibrê pî-ḥākām ḥēn wə-śiptôt kəsîl təballəʿennû

Grammar Details

• *dibrê*: masculine plural construct - words of
• *pî-ḥākām*: masculine singular construct + adjective - mouth of wise (man)
• *ḥēn*: masculine singular noun - grace/favor
• *wə-śiptôt*: conjunction + feminine plural construct - and lips of
• *kəsîl*: masculine singular noun - fool
• *təballəʿennû*: piel imperfect 3rd feminine plural with 3rd masculine singular suffix - will swallow him up

Word Meanings

• *dibrê*: words/sayings/speech
• *pî-ḥākām*: mouth of wise man/speech of wise person
• *ḥēn*: grace/favor/charm
• *śiptôt*: lips/speech/words
• *kəsîl*: fool/foolish person
• *təballəʿennû*: will swallow him up/will destroy him/will ruin him

Referenced Verses

• Prov 15:2 : 2 The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
• Luke 4:22 : 22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
• Eph 4:29 : 29 Let {G3956} no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear.
• Col 4:6 : 6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
• Luke 19:22 : 22 He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that which I laid not down, and reaping that which I did not sow;
• Prov 15:23 : 23 A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it!
• Prov 16:21-24 : 21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. 22 Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is [their] folly. 23 The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips. 24 Pleasant words are [as] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
• Prov 18:6-8 : 6 A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes. 7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
• Prov 19:5 : 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
• Prov 22:11 : 11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [For] the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.
• Prov 22:17-18 : 17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.
• Prov 25:11-12 : 11 A word fitly spoken Is [like] apples of gold in network of silver. 12 [ As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [So is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
• Prov 26:9 : 9 [ As] a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
• Prov 31:26 : 26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.
• Matt 12:35 : 35 The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
• 2 Sam 1:16 : 16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.
• 1 Kgs 20:40-42 : 40 And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it. 41 And he hasted, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 42 And he said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
• Job 4:3-4 : 3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, And thou hast strengthened the weak hands. 4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, And thou hast made firm the feeble knees.
• Job 16:5 : 5 [ But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, And the solace of my lips would assuage [your grief].
• Ps 37:30 : 30 The mouth of the righteous talketh of wisdom, And his tongue speaketh justice.
• Ps 40:9-9 : 9 I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Jehovah, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great assembly.
• Ps 64:8 : 8 So they shall be made to stumble, their own tongue being against them: All that see them shall wag the head.
• Ps 71:15-18 : 15 My mouth shall tell of thy righteousness, [And] of thy salvation all the day; For I know not the numbers [thereof]. 16 I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Jehovah: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. 17 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; And hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. 18 Yea, even when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not, Until I have declared thy strength unto [the next] generation, Thy might to every one that is to come.
• Ps 140:9 : 9 As for the head of those that compass me about, Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
• Prov 10:8 : 8 The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall.
• Prov 10:10 : 10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall.
• Prov 10:13-14 : 13 In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. 14 Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.
• Prov 10:20-21 : 20 The tongue of the righteous is [as] choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
• Prov 10:31-32 : 31 The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] perverseness.
• Prov 12:13-14 : 13 In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man; But the righteous shall come out of trouble. 14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; And the doings of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
• Prov 12:18 : 18 There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.