Proverbs 12 · Verse 6

Proverbs 12:6

The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
Proverbs 12:6, King James Version

Proverbs 12:6 in other translations

BSBThe words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
WEBThe words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
ASVThe words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood; But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
YLTThe words of the wicked are: ‘Lay wait for blood,' And the mouth of the upright delivereth them.
DARBYThe words of the wicked are a lying-in-wait for blood; but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
BBEThe words of sinners are destruction for the upright; but the mouth of upright men is their salvation.
WebsterThe words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

What does Proverbs 12:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. The words--or, "expressed designs" of the wicked are for evil purposes. the mouth--or, "words" of the righteous delivering instead of ensnaring men.

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

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Wicked people speak mischief to their neighbours. A man may sometimes do a good work with one good word.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 12:6 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.

דִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.Rei[the] words ofH1697
רְשָׁעִ֣יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563
אֱרָב\־'e.rov-[are] to lie in wait forH693
דָּ֑םDambloodH1818
וּפִ֥יu.Fiand [the] mouth ofH6310
יְ֝שָׁרִ֗יםye.sha.Rimupright [people]H3477
יַצִּילֵֽם\׃ya.tzi.Lemit delivers themH5337

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

Cross references for Proverbs 12:6

  • Proverbs 14:3

    In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

  • Jeremiah 5:26

    For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.

  • Proverbs 1:11-19

    If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse: …

  • Isaiah 59:7

    Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

  • 2 Samuel 17:1-4

    Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night: And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only: And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace. And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.

  • Esther 4:7-14

    And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai; …

  • Esther 7:4-6

    For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king’s damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

  • Acts 23:12

    And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

  • Acts 23:15

    Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
words.
1:11-19; 2Sa 17:1-4; Isa 59:7; Jer 5:26; Mic 7:1,2; Ac 23:12,15
Ac 25:3
the mouth.
14:3; Es 4:7-14; 7:4-6

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

Context

  • Proverbs 12:5

    The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

  • Proverbs 12:6

    The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

  • Proverbs 12:7

    The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

Read all of Proverbs 12

Proverbs 12:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Las palabras de los impíos son para acechar la sangre: mas la boca de los rectos los librará.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Les paroles des méchants sont des embûches pour verser le sang, mais la bouche des hommes droits les délivrera.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Worte der Gesetzlosen sind ein Lauern auf Blut; aber der Mund der Aufrichtigen errettet sie.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Verba impiorum insidiantur sanguini; os justorum liberabit eos.