Ecclesiastes 10:12

The Message

The words of a wise person are gracious. The talk of a fool self-destructs— He starts out talking nonsense And ends up spouting insanity and evil.

Cross References

2 Samuel 1:16

“You asked for it,” David told him. “You sealed your death sentence when you said you killed God’s anointed king.”

Psalm 140:9

These troublemakers all around me— let them drown in their own verbal poison. Let God pile hellfire on them, let him bury them alive in crevasses! These loudmouths— don’t let them be taken seriously; These savages— let the Devil hunt them down!

Psalm 37:30

Righteous chews on wisdom like a dog on a bone, rolls virtue around on his tongue. His heart pumps God’s Word like blood through his veins; his feet are as sure as a cat’s.

Proverbs 10:10

An evasive eye is a sign of trouble ahead, but an open, face-to-face meeting results in peace.

Proverbs 10:8

A wise heart takes orders; an empty head will come unglued.

Proverbs 12:18

Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise.

Proverbs 15:2

Knowledge flows like spring water from the wise; fools are leaky faucets, dripping nonsense.

Proverbs 15:23

Congenial conversation—what a pleasure! The right word at the right time—beautiful!

Proverbs 19:5

Perjury won’t go unpunished. Would you let a liar go free?

Proverbs 22:11

God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken; good leaders also delight in their friendship.

Proverbs 26:9

To ask a moron to quote a proverb is like putting a scalpel in the hands of a drunk.

Ecclesiastes 12:11

The words of the wise prod us to live well. They’re like nails hammered home, holding life together. They are given by God, the one Shepherd.

Ecclesiastes 4:5

The fool sits back and takes it easy, His sloth is slow suicide.

Ecclesiastes 5:2

Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God’s in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better.

Ecclesiastes 5:6

Don’t let your mouth make a total sinner of you. When called to account, you won’t get by with “Sorry, I didn’t mean it.” Why risk provoking God to angry retaliation?

Ecclesiastes 9:17

The quiet words of the wise are more effective Than the ranting of a king of fools.

Luke 19:22

“He said, ‘You’re right that I don’t suffer fools gladly—and you’ve acted the fool! Why didn’t you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?’

Luke 4:22

All who were there, watching and listening, were surprised at how well he spoke. But they also said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son, the one we’ve known since he was just a kid?”

Ephesians 4:29

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.