KJV ORIGINAL
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
The words that come from a wise person's mouth are kind and helpful, but a fool's words will destroy him.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse is teaching that wise people speak with grace and kindness, while foolish people harm themselves with their own careless words.
📚 Historical Context
This comes from Ecclesiastes, written by Solomon (or someone writing in his tradition) around 950-200 BC. The book is part of wisdom literature, collecting practical observations about life. In ancient Hebrew culture, the power of words was deeply respected - they understood that speech could build up or tear down relationships, reputations, and even one's own life.
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