Proverbs 10 · Verse 11

Proverbs 10:11

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 10:11, King James Version

Proverbs 10:11 in other translations

BSBThe mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
WEBThe mouth of the righteous is a spring of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
ASVThe mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
YLTA fountain of life is the mouth of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked cover doth violence.
DARBYThe mouth of a righteous man is a fountain of life; but the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.
BBEThe mouth of the upright man is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the evil-doer is a bitter cup.
WebsterThe mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

What does Proverbs 10:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. a well--or, "source" of good to himself and others (Joh 7:37, 38). On last clause, see on Pr 10:6.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life - מקור חיים mekor chaiyim, is the vein of lives; an allusion to the great aorta, which conveys the blood from the heart to every art of the body. The latter clause of this verse is the same with that of Pro 10:6.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
The good man's mouth is always open to teach, comfort, and correct others.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 10:11 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מְק֣וֹרme.Kor[is] a fountain ofH4726
חַ֭יִּיםChai.yimlifeH2416
פִּ֣יpi[the] mouth ofH6310
צַדִּ֑יקtza.Dika righteous [person]H6662
וּפִ֥יu.Fiand [the] mouth ofH6310
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563
יְכַסֶּ֥הye.kha.Sehit concealsH3680
חָמָֽס\׃cha.MasviolenceH2555

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 10:11

  • Proverbs 13:14

    The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

  • Ephesians 4:29

    Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

  • Proverbs 10:20-21

    The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

  • Proverbs 18:4

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

  • Proverbs 10:6

    Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

  • Psalms 37:30-31

    The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

  • Proverbs 16:22-24

    Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

  • Proverbs 15:7

    The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

  • Proverbs 10:32

    The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

  • Proverbs 20:15

    There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

  • Ecclesiastes 10:12-14

    The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

  • Matthew 12:34-37

    O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
mouth of a.
20,21,32; 13:14; 15:7; 16:22-24; 18:4; 20:15; Ps 37:30,31; Eph 4:29
but.
6; Ps 107:42; Ec 10:12-14; Mt 12:34-37; Jas 3:5-8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 10:10

    He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

  • Proverbs 10:11

    The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

  • Proverbs 10:12

    Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Read all of Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Vena de vida es la boca del justo: mas violencia cubrirá la boca de los impíos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		La bouche du juste est une fontaine de vie, mais la bouche des méchants couvre la violence.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ein Born des Lebens ist der Mund des Gerechten, aber den Mund der Gesetzlosen bedeckt Gewalttat.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Vena vitæ os justi, et os impiorum operit iniquitatem.