Proverbs 16:23

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

A wise person’s heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words.

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 15:28 : 28 The heart of the righteous considers how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
  • Matt 12:34-35 : 34 Offspring of vipers! How are you able to say anything good, since you are evil? For the mouth speaks from what fills the heart. 35 The good person brings good things out of his good treasury, and the evil person brings evil things out of his evil treasury.
  • Col 3:16 : 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.
  • Prov 22:17-18 : 17 The Sayings of the Wise Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my instruction. 18 For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips.
  • Ps 37:30-31 : 30 The godly speak wise words and promote justice. 31 The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip.
  • Ps 45:1 : 1 For the music director; according to the tune of“Lilies;” by the Korahites, a well-written poem, a love song. My heart is stirred by a beautiful song. I say,“I have composed this special song for the king; my tongue is as skilled as the stylus of an experienced scribe.”

Similar Verses (AI)

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

  • Prov 16:21-22
    2 verses
    88%

    21The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness.

    22Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools.

  • Prov 15:7
    83%

    7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.

  • Prov 15:2
    82%

    2The tongue of the wise treats knowledge correctly, but the mouth of the fool spouts out folly.

  • Prov 15:14
    82%

    14The discerning mind seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

  • Prov 10:13-14
    2 verses
    81%

    13Wisdom is found in the words of the discerning person, but the one who lacks sense will be disciplined.

    14Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction.

  • Prov 18:15
    80%

    15The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge.

  • Prov 14:3
    79%

    3In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them.

  • Prov 1:5-6
    2 verses
    79%

    5(Let the wise also hear and gain instruction, and let the discerning acquire guidance!)

    6To discern the meaning of a proverb and a parable, the sayings of the wise and their riddles.

  • Prov 12:23
    79%

    23The shrewd person conceals knowledge, but foolish people proclaim folly.

  • Eccl 10:12
    78%

    12Words and Works of Wise Men and Fools The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.

  • Prov 10:21
    78%

    21The teaching of the righteous feeds many, but fools die for lack of sense.

  • Prov 2:6
    77%

    6For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

  • Prov 5:2
    77%

    2in order to safeguard discretion, and that your lips may guard knowledge.

  • Prov 9:9
    77%

    9Give instruction to a wise person, and he will become wiser still; teach a righteous person and he will add to his learning.

  • Prov 14:33
    77%

    33Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning; it is not known in the inner parts of fools.

  • Prov 10:19
    76%

    19When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.

  • Prov 10:31-32
    2 verses
    76%

    31The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed.

    32The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing, but the speech of the wicked is perverse.

  • Ps 49:3
    76%

    3I will declare a wise saying; I will share my profound thoughts.

  • Prov 23:12
    76%

    12Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to the words of knowledge.

  • Ps 37:30
    76%

    30The godly speak wise words and promote justice.

  • Prov 22:17-18
    2 verses
    76%

    17The Sayings of the Wise Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my instruction.

    18For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips.

  • Prov 2:10
    76%

    10For wisdom will enter your heart, and moral knowledge will be attractive to you.

  • Prov 23:16
    75%

    16my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

  • Prov 16:24
    75%

    24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

  • Prov 29:11
    75%

    11A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

  • Prov 16:1
    75%

    1The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue comes from the LORD.

  • Prov 21:23
    75%

    23The one who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his life from troubles.

  • Prov 15:31
    74%

    31The person who hears the reproof that leads to life is at home among the wise.

  • Prov 15:23-24
    2 verses
    74%

    23A person has joy in giving an appropriate answer, and a word at the right time– how good it is!

    24The path of life is upward for the wise person, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.

  • Prov 18:6-7
    2 verses
    74%

    6The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.

    7The mouth of a fool is his ruin, and his lips are a snare for his life.

  • Prov 2:2
    74%

    2by making your ear attentive to wisdom, and by turning your heart to understanding,

  • Prov 10:8
    74%

    8The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

  • Prov 15:28
    74%

    28The heart of the righteous considers how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

  • Prov 14:8
    74%

    8The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

  • Prov 18:4
    74%

    4The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

  • Prov 20:15
    74%

    15There is gold, and an abundance of rubies, but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel.

  • Prov 13:16
    74%

    16Every shrewd person acts with knowledge, but a fool displays his folly.

  • Prov 17:27-28
    2 verses
    74%

    27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning.

    28Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.

  • Prov 23:19
    74%

    19Listen, my child, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right way.

  • Prov 15:4
    74%

    4Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse speech breaks the spirit.

  • Prov 4:24
    73%

    24Remove perverse speech from your mouth; keep devious talk far from your lips.