Matthew 12:34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

◄ Matthew 12:34 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

English Standard Version
You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

New American Standard Bible
"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

King James Bible
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

International Standard Version
You children of serpents! How can you say anything good when you are evil? The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart.

American Standard Version
Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Douay-Rheims Bible
O generation of vipers, how can you speak good things, whereas you are evil? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Darby Bible Translation
Offspring of vipers! how can ye speak good things, being wicked? For of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Young's Literal Translation
'Brood of vipers! how are ye able to speak good things -- being evil? for out of the abundance of the heart doth the mouth speak.

Cross References

1 Samuel 24:13
As said the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceeds from the wicked: but my hand shall not be on you.

Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 16:23
The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.

Isaiah 9:17
Therefore the LORD shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 32:6
For the vile person will speak villainy, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

Matthew 3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Matthew 12:35
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

Matthew 15:18
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Matthew 23:33
You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?

Luke 3:7
Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

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Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

12:33-37 Men's language discovers what country they are of, likewise what manner of spirit they are of. The heart is the fountain, words are the streams. A troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring, must send forth muddy and unpleasant streams. Nothing but the salt of grace, cast into the spring, will heal the waters, season the speech, and purify the corrupt communication. An evil man has an evil treasure in his heart, and out of it brings forth evil things. Lusts and corruptions, dwelling and reigning in the heart, are an evil treasure, out of which the sinner brings forth bad words and actions, to dishonour God, and hurt others. Let us keep constant watch over ourselves, that we may speak words agreeable to the Christian character.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

34. O generation of vipers—(See on [1281]Mt 3:7).

how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh—a principle obvious enough, yet of deepest significance and vast application. In Lu 6:45 we find it uttered as part of the discourse delivered after the choice of the apostles.