Proverbs 12 · Verse 18

Proverbs 12:18

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
Proverbs 12:18, King James Version

Proverbs 12:18 in other translations

BSBSpeaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
WEBThere is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
ASVThere is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.
YLTA rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.
DARBYThere is that babbleth like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health.
BBEThere are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again.
WebsterThere is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

What does Proverbs 12:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. speaketh--literally, "speaketh hastily," or indiscreetly (Psa 106:33), as an angry man retorts harsh and provoking invectives. tongue ... health--by soothing and gentle language.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 There is that speaketh - Instead of בוטה boteh, blabbing out, blustering, several MSS. have בוטח boteach, Trusting: and instead of כמדקרות kemadkeroth, As the piercings, seven MSS., with the Complutensian Polyglot, have במדקרות bemadkeroth, In the piercings. "There is that trusteth in the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." But I suppose the former to be the true reading.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Whisperings and evil surmises, like a sword, separate those that have been dear to each other. The tongue of the wise is health, making all whole.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 12:18 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.

יֵ֣שׁyeshthereH3426
בּ֭וֹטֶהBo.teh[is one who] speaks rashlyH981
כְּמַדְקְר֣וֹתke.mad.ke.Rotlike thrusts ofH4094
חָ֑רֶבCha.reva swordH2719
וּלְשׁ֖וֹןu.le.Shonand [the] tongue ofH3956
חֲכָמִ֣יםcha.kha.Mimwise [people]H2450
מַרְפֵּֽא\׃mar.Pe'[is] healingH4832

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

Cross references for Proverbs 12:18

  • Proverbs 16:24

    Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

  • Proverbs 15:4

    A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 57:4

    My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

  • James 3:6-8

    And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

  • Psalms 52:2

    Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

  • Proverbs 25:18

    A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

  • Proverbs 15:7

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

  • Proverbs 4:22

    For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

  • Proverbs 13:17

    A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

  • Daniel 11:33

    And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

  • Psalms 64:3

    Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that.
25:18; Ps 52:2; 57:4; 59:7; 64:3; Jas 3:6-8
like. Compare.
Re 1:16
but.
10:20,21; 13:17; 15:7; 16:24; Da 11:33; Re 22:2

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

Context

  • Proverbs 12:17

    He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

  • Proverbs 12:18

    There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

  • Proverbs 12:19

    The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Read all of Proverbs 12

Proverbs 12:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Hay quienes hablan como dando estocadas de espada: mas la lengua de los sabios es medicina.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Il y a tel homme qui dit légèrement ce qui perce comme une épée, mais la langue des sages est santé.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Da ist einer, der unbesonnene Worte redet gleich Schwertstichen; aber die Zunge der Weisen ist Heilung.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Est qui promittit, et quasi gladio pungitur conscientiæ: lingua autem sapientium sanitas est.