Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
Douay-Rheims 1899
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 a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
13The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
Cross References
2 Samuel 1:16And David said to him: Thy blood be upon thy own head: for thy own mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I have slain the Lord's anointed.
Job 4:3Behold thou hast taught many, and thou hast strengthened the weary hands:
Psalms 37:30The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom : and his tongue shall speak judgment.
Psalms 64:8and God shall be exalted. The arrows of children are their wounds:
Psalms 140:9If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea:
Proverbs 10:10He that winketh with the eye shall cause sorrow: and the foolish in lips shall be beaten.
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 →