Proverbs 21:23

Bible in Basic English (1941)

He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 12:13 : 13 In the sin of the lips is a net which takes the sinner, but the upright man will come out of trouble.
  • Prov 13:3 : 3 He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.
  • Prov 18:21 : 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.
  • Jas 1:26 : 26 If a man seems to have religion and has no control over his tongue but lets himself be tricked by what is false, this man's religion is of no value.
  • Jas 3:2-9 : 2 For we all go wrong in a number of things. If a man never makes a slip in his talk, then he is a complete man and able to keep all his body in control. 3 Now if we put bits of iron into horses' mouths so that they may be guided by us, we have complete control of their bodies. 4 And again ships, though they are so great and are moved by violent winds, are turned by a very small guiding-blade, at the impulse of the man who is using it. 5 Even so the tongue is a small part of the body, but it takes credit for great things. How much wood may be lighted by a very little fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell. 7 For every sort of beast and bird and every living thing on earth and in the sea has been controlled by man and is under his authority; 8 But the tongue may not be controlled by man; it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death. 9 With it we give praise to our Lord and Father; and with it we put a curse on men who are made in God's image. 10 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, it is not right for these things to be so. 11 Does the fountain send from the same outlet sweet and bitter water? 12 Is a fig-tree able to give us olives, my brothers, or do we get figs from a vine, or sweet water from the salt sea? 13 Who has wisdom and good sense among you? let him make his works clear by a life of gentle wisdom.
  • Prov 17:27-28 : 27 He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense. 28 Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
  • Prov 10:19 : 19 Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Prov 13:2-3
    2 verses
    83%

    2 A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts.

    3 He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.

  • Ps 34:13
    77%

    13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from words of deceit.

  • Prov 10:18-21
    4 verses
    77%

    18 Hate is covered up by the lips of the upright man, but he who lets out evil about another is foolish.

    19 Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely.

    20 The tongue of the upright man is like tested silver: the heart of the evil-doer is of little value.

    21 The lips of the upright man give food to men, but the foolish come to death for need of sense.

  • Prov 18:6-7
    2 verses
    77%

    6 A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows.

    7 The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his lips are a net for his soul.

  • Prov 14:3
    76%

    3 In the mouth of the foolish man is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe.

  • Prov 15:4
    75%

    4 A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.

  • Prov 29:11
    75%

    11 A foolish man lets out all his wrath, but a wise man keeps it back quietly.

  • Prov 15:1-2
    2 verses
    75%

    1 By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings.

    2 Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words.

  • Prov 10:31
    75%

    31 The mouth of the upright man is budding with wisdom, but the twisted tongue will be cut off.

  • Prov 16:23
    75%

    23 The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.

  • Prov 4:23-24
    2 verses
    74%

    23 And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.

    24 Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you.

  • 1 Pet 3:10
    74%

    10 For it is said, Let the man who has a love of life, desiring to see good days, keep his tongue from evil and his lips from words of deceit:

  • Prov 18:20-21
    2 verses
    74%

    20 With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure.

    21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.

  • Prov 17:20
    74%

    20 Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.

  • Ps 39:1
    74%

    1 <To the chief music-maker. Of Jeduthun. A Psalm. Of David.> I said, I will give attention to my ways, so that my tongue may do no wrong; I will keep my mouth under control, while the sinner is before me.

  • Ps 141:3
    73%

    3 O Lord, keep a watch over my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

  • Eccl 10:12
    73%

    12 The words of a wise man's mouth are sweet to all, but the lips of a foolish man are his destruction.

  • Prov 22:18
    73%

    18 For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.

  • Prov 12:23
    73%

    23 A sharp man keeps back his knowledge; but the heart of foolish men makes clear their foolish thoughts.

  • Prov 17:27-28
    2 verses
    73%

    27 He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.

    28 Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.

  • Job 20:13
    73%

    13 Though he takes care of it, and does not let it go, but keeps it still in his mouth;

  • Prov 5:2
    72%

    2 So that you may be ruled by a wise purpose, and your lips may keep knowledge.

  • Job 5:21
    72%

    21 He will keep you safe from the evil tongue; and you will have no fear of wasting when it comes.

  • Prov 21:22
    72%

    22 A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.

  • Prov 19:8
    72%

    8 He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good.

  • Prov 10:11
    72%

    11 The mouth of the upright man is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the evil-doer is a bitter cup.

  • Prov 19:16
    72%

    16 He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word.

  • Job 33:18
    72%

    18 To keep back his soul from the underworld, and his life from destruction.

  • Prov 22:5
    72%

    5 Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them.

  • Prov 16:17
    72%

    17 The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.

  • Ps 37:30
    72%

    30 The mouth of the good man says words of wisdom; the talk of his tongue is of righteousness.

  • Prov 10:14
    71%

    14 Knowledge is stored up by the wise, but the mouth of the foolish man is a destruction which is near.

  • Prov 15:23
    71%

    23 A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is!

  • Ps 50:19
    71%

    19 You have given your mouth to evil, your tongue to words of deceit.

  • Prov 30:32
    71%

    32 If you have done foolishly in lifting yourself up, or if you have had evil designs, put your hand over your mouth.

  • Prov 21:24
    71%

    24 The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.

  • Prov 12:18
    71%

    18 There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again.

  • Prov 16:21
    71%

    21 The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.

  • Prov 26:28
    71%

    28 A false tongue has hate for those who have clean hearts, and a smooth mouth is a cause of falling.

  • Prov 12:13
    71%

    13 In the sin of the lips is a net which takes the sinner, but the upright man will come out of trouble.