Proverbs 18:4
New International Version
The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

New Living Translation
Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.

English Standard Version
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Berean Standard Bible
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

King James Bible
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

New King James Version
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.

New American Standard Bible
The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

NASB 1995
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

NASB 1977
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Legacy Standard Bible
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.

Amplified Bible
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom]; The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].

Christian Standard Bible
The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters, a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.

American Standard Version
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.

Contemporary English Version
Words of wisdom are a stream that flows from a deep fountain.

English Revised Version
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The words of a person's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.

Good News Translation
A person's words can be a source of wisdom, deep as the ocean, fresh as a flowing stream.

International Standard Version
The words a man says are as deep waters— a fountain of wisdom is an overflowing stream.

Majority Standard Bible
The words of a man?s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

NET Bible
The words of a person's mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

New Heart English Bible
The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

Webster's Bible Translation
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the well-spring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

World English Bible
The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The words of a man’s mouth [are] deep waters, "" The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.

Young's Literal Translation
Deep waters are the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.

Smith's Literal Translation
Deep waters are the words of man's mouth, the fountain of wisdom a gushing stream.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Words from the mouth of a man are deep waters. And the fountain of wisdom is a torrent overflowing.

New American Bible
The words of one’s mouth are deep waters, the spring of wisdom, a running brook.

New Revised Standard Version
The words of the mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters; and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters and the fount of wisdom is a rushing torrent.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters; A flowing brook, a fountain of wisdom.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
3With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace. 4The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. 5Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.…

Cross References
James 3:11-12
Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? / My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

John 7:38
Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’”

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Proverbs 13:14
The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.

Proverbs 20:5
The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

Isaiah 12:3
With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,

John 4:14
But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”

Psalm 36:9
For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.

Proverbs 16:22
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.

Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.

Matthew 12:34-35
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Psalm 119:130
The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.

Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!


Treasury of Scripture

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

words

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

Proverbs 13:14
The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

Proverbs 16:22
Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

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Proverbs 18
1. A fool delights not in understanding














The words of a man’s mouth
This phrase emphasizes the power and significance of human speech. In Hebrew, "words" (דִּבְרֵי, dibrei) often carry the connotation of not just spoken words but also intentions and thoughts. The "mouth" (פִּי, pi) is the instrument through which these words are expressed. In the biblical context, words are not trivial; they have the power to build up or tear down, to bless or curse. The Bible frequently underscores the importance of guarding one's speech, as seen in James 3:5-6, where the tongue is described as a small part of the body but capable of great impact.

are deep waters
The imagery of "deep waters" (מַיִם עֲמֻקִּים, mayim amuqim) suggests complexity and depth. In ancient Near Eastern culture, water was a symbol of life, mystery, and sometimes danger. Deep waters can be both a source of sustenance and a place of peril. This duality reflects the nature of human words, which can be profound and life-giving or obscure and potentially harmful. The depth implies that understanding and discernment are required to navigate the words of others, much like one would need skill to navigate deep waters.

the fountain of wisdom
A "fountain" (מַעְיָן, ma'yan) in Hebrew culture is a source of fresh, life-giving water, often associated with purity and renewal. "Wisdom" (חָכְמָה, chokhmah) is a central theme in Proverbs, representing not just knowledge but the skillful application of knowledge in living a godly life. The fountain of wisdom is a metaphor for the continuous and refreshing flow of divine insight and understanding. It suggests that true wisdom is not stagnant but ever-flowing, providing guidance and clarity.

is a bubbling brook
The phrase "bubbling brook" (נַחַל נֹבֵעַ, nachal novea) conveys a sense of movement and vitality. A brook is a small stream, often characterized by its clear, flowing water. The bubbling sound indicates life and energy, contrasting with the stillness of deep waters. This imagery suggests that wisdom, like a bubbling brook, is dynamic and accessible, offering refreshment and clarity to those who seek it. In the biblical context, this reflects the idea that wisdom is not hidden or reserved for the elite but is available to all who earnestly pursue it.

(4) The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters . . .--i.e., the words of a "man," properly so called, are as deep waters which cannot be easily fathomed; they are a copious stream, which flows from a never failing source; they are a fountain of wisdom which is never exhausted.

Verse 4. - The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters. "Man" (ish) here means the ideal man in all his wisdom and integrity, just as in Proverbs 18:22 the ideal wife is intended under the general term "wife." Such a man's words are as deep waters which cannot be fathomed or exhausted. The metaphor is common (see Proverbs 20:5; Ecclesiastes 7:24; Ecclus. 21:13). For "mouth," the Septuagint reads "heart:" "Deep water is a word in a man's heart." The second hemistich explains the first: The well spring of wisdom as a flowing (gushing) brook. A man's words are now called a well spring of wisdom, gushing forth from its source, the wise and understanding heart, pure, fresh, and inexhaustible. Septuagint, "And it leapeth forth (ἀναπηδύει) a river and a fountain of life." Or we may, with Delitzsch, take the whole as one idea, and consider that a man's words are deep waters, a bubbling brook, and a fountain of wisdom.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The words
דִּבְרֵ֣י (diḇ·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of a man’s
אִ֑ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

mouth
פִי־ (p̄î-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

are deep
עֲ֭מֻקִּים (‘ă·muq·qîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6013: Deep

waters;
מַ֣יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

the fountain
מְק֣וֹר (mə·qō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4726: Something dug, a, source, of happiness, wisdom, progeny)

of wisdom
חָכְמָֽה׃ (ḥāḵ·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2451: Wisdom

is a bubbling
נֹ֝בֵ֗עַ (nō·ḇê·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5042: To gush forth, to utter, to emit

brook.
נַ֥חַל (na·ḥal)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5158: A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaft


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 18:4 The words of a man's mouth (Prov. Pro Pr)
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