Proverbs 18:4

Deep water is the words of the mouth of a man; and a strand floating over is the well of wisdom. (Words from a person’s mouth (can be) like deep water or (can be) as deep as the water; and the well of wisdom (is) like a stream flowing over.)

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

In Context

3A wicked man, when he cometh into (the) depth of sins, despiseth wholesome lore, ( or discipline), and commandment; but scandal and shame followeth him.

5It is not good to take the person of a wicked man in doom, that thou bow away from the truth of doom. (It is not good to favour a wicked person, so that thou turn away from the truth in judgement.)

Read all of Proverbs 18

Cross References

Proverbs 10:11The vein of life is the mouth of a just man; but the mouth of wicked men covereth wickedness. (The words of the righteous be a fountain of life; but wickedness covereth the mouths of the wicked.)

Proverbs 16:22The well of life is the learning of him that wieldeth (it); the teaching of fools is folly.

Matthew 12:34Ye generation of adders, how may ye speak good things, when ye be evil? (or Ye children of snakes, how can ye say anything good, when ye yourselves be evil?) For the mouth speaketh (out) of the plenty [or (out) of the great abundance] of the heart.

John 7:38He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith, Rivers of quick water shall flow out of his womb. (He who believeth in me, as the Scripture saith, Rivers of living water, or Rivers of life-giving water, shall flow out of his belly.)

Colossians 4:6Your word be savoured with salt (for)evermore in grace; that ye know, how it behooveth you to answer to each man. (Let your words always be gracious, and savoured with salt; so that ye know, how it behooveth you to answer to everyone.)

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 18:4

3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. This may include a double sense:—1. That wicked people are scornful people, and put contempt upon others. When the wicked comes into any company, comes into the schools of wisdom or into the assemblies for religious worship, then comes contempt of God, of his people and ministers, and of every thing that is said and done. You can expect no other from those that are profane than that they will be scoffers; they will be an ignominy and… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Proverbs 18:4