Proverbs 21:23

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

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

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Prov 12:13 : 13 The evil person is ensnared by the transgression of his speech, but the righteous person escapes out of trouble.
  • Prov 13:3 : 3 The one who guards his words guards his life; whoever is talkative will come to ruin.
  • Prov 18:21 : 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit.
  • Jas 1:26 : 26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.
  • Jas 3:2-9 : 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. 3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. 4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. 5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. 6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence– and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. 8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. 11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water. 13 True Wisdom Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings.
  • Prov 17:27-28 : 27 The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning. 28 Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.
  • Prov 10:19 : 19 When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.

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%

    2From the fruit of his speech a person eats good things, but the treacherous desire the fruit of violence.

    3The one who guards his words guards his life; whoever is talkative will come to ruin.

  • Ps 34:13
    77%

    13Then make sure you don’t speak evil words or use deceptive speech!

  • Prov 10:18-21
    4 verses
    77%

    18The one who conceals hatred utters lies, and the one who spreads slander is certainly a fool.

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

    20What the righteous say is like the best silver, but what the wicked think is of little value.

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

  • Prov 18:6-7
    2 verses
    77%

    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 14:3
    76%

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

  • Prov 15:4
    75%

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

  • Prov 29:11
    75%

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

  • Prov 15:1-2
    2 verses
    75%

    1A gentle response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.

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

  • Prov 10:31
    75%

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

  • Prov 16:23
    75%

    23A wise person’s heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words.

  • Prov 4:23-24
    2 verses
    74%

    23Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.

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

  • 1 Pet 3:10
    74%

    10For the one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from uttering deceit.

  • Prov 18:20-21
    2 verses
    74%

    20From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied, with the product of his lips he will be satisfied.

    21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit.

  • Prov 17:20
    74%

    20The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.

  • Ps 39:1
    74%

    1For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of David. I decided,“I will watch what I say and make sure I do not sin with my tongue. I will put a muzzle over my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.”

  • Ps 141:3
    73%

    3O LORD, place a guard on my mouth! Protect the opening of my lips!

  • Eccl 10:12
    73%

    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 22:18
    73%

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

  • Prov 12:23
    73%

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

  • Prov 17:27-28
    2 verses
    73%

    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.

  • Job 20:13
    73%

    13if he retains it for himself and does not let it go, and holds it fast in his mouth,

  • Prov 5:2
    72%

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

  • Job 5:21
    72%

    21You will be protected from malicious gossip, and will not be afraid of the destruction when it comes.

  • Prov 21:22
    72%

    22A wise man went up against the city of the mighty and brought down the stronghold in which they trust.

  • Prov 19:8
    72%

    8The one who acquires understanding loves himself; the one who preserves understanding will prosper.

  • Prov 10:11
    72%

    11The speech of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the speech of the wicked conceals violence.

  • Prov 19:16
    72%

    16The one who obeys commandments guards his life; the one who despises his ways will die.

  • Job 33:18
    72%

    18He spares a person’s life from corruption, his very life from crossing over the river.

  • Prov 22:5
    72%

    5Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse, but the one who guards himself keeps far from them.

  • Prov 16:17
    72%

    17The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; the one who guards his way safeguards his life.

  • Ps 37:30
    72%

    30The godly speak wise words and promote justice.

  • Prov 10:14
    71%

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

  • Prov 15:23
    71%

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

  • Ps 50:19
    71%

    19You do damage with words, and use your tongue to deceive.

  • Prov 30:32
    71%

    32If you have done foolishly by exalting yourself or if you have planned evil, put your hand over your mouth!

  • Prov 21:24
    71%

    24A proud and arrogant person, whose name is“Scoffer,” acts with overbearing pride.

  • Prov 12:18
    71%

    18Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.

  • Prov 16:21
    71%

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

  • Prov 26:28
    71%

    28A lying tongue hates those crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

  • Prov 12:13
    71%

    13The evil person is ensnared by the transgression of his speech, but the righteous person escapes out of trouble.