Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.
Darby Translation
In The King James Version
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
In Context
11If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Cross References
2 Samuel 1:16And David said to him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth has testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah's anointed.
Job 4:3Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
Psalms 37:30The mouth of the righteous proffereth wisdom, and his tongue speaketh judgment;
Psalms 64:8By their own tongue they are made to fall over one another: all that see them shall flee away.
Psalms 140:9[As for] the head of those that encompass me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
Proverbs 10:10He that winketh with the eye causeth grief, and a prating fool shall fall.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 10:5-12
Mutual Duties of Princes and Subjects. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. 5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: 6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. 7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. 8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 9 Whoso removeth stones… Read the whole commentary →