Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.

◄ Proverbs 15:7 ►

New International Version
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.

New Living Translation
The lips of the wise give good advice; the heart of a fool has none to give.

English Standard Version
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

Berean Standard Bible
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.

King James Bible
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

New King James Version
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool does not do so.

New American Standard Bible
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so.

NASB 1995
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so.

NASB 1977
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so.

Legacy Standard Bible
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the hearts of fools are not so.

Amplified Bible
The lips of the wise spread knowledge [sifting it as chaff from the grain]; But the hearts of [shortsighted] fools are not so.

Christian Standard Bible
The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.

American Standard Version
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

Contemporary English Version
Words of wisdom make good sense; the thoughts of a fool make no sense at all.

English Revised Version
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The lips of wise people spread knowledge, but a foolish attitude does not.

Good News Translation
Knowledge is spread by people who are wise, not by fools.

International Standard Version
What the wise have to say disseminates knowledge, but it's not in the heart of fools to do so.

Majority Standard Bible
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools.

NET Bible
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.

New Heart English Bible
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.

Webster's Bible Translation
The lips of the wise diffuse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

World English Bible
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, "" And the heart of fools [is] not right.

Young's Literal Translation
The lips of the wise scatter knowledge, And the heart of fools is not right.

Smith's Literal Translation
The lips of the wise will disperse knowledge: and the heart of the foolish not so.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
The lips of the wise shall disperse knowledge: the heart of fools shall be unlike.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The lips of the wise shall disseminate knowledge. The heart of the foolish will be dissimilar.

New American Bible
The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the heart of fools is not steadfast.

New Revised Standard Version
The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the minds of fools.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
The lips of the wise utter knowledge; but the hearts of fools are unjust.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The lips of the wise speak knowledge and the hearts of fools are unrighteous.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish is not stedfast.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The lips of the wise are bound by discretion: but the hearts of the foolish are not safe.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
…6The house of the righteous has great treasure, but the income of the wicked is trouble. 7The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the hearts of fools. 8The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

James 3:13
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

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.

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.

Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,

2 Timothy 2:24-25
And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing. / He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

Titus 2:8
and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.

Philippians 1:9-10
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, / so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

Psalm 37:30
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

Psalm 49:3
My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.

Psalm 119:13
With my lips I proclaim all the judgments of Your mouth.

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

Proverbs 10:21
The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.

Treasury of Scripture

The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish does not so.

lips

Psalm 37:30
The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

Psalm 45:2
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

Psalm 51:13-15
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee…

the heart

Proverbs 10:20,21
The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth…

Matthew 12:34
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

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Proverbs 15

1. A gentle answer turns away wrath

Berean Study Bible

The lips of the wise
This phrase emphasizes the importance of speech and communication in conveying wisdom. In the Hebrew context, "lips" (שְׂפָתַיִם, sephatayim) often symbolize the outward expression of inner thoughts. The wise, those who fear the Lord and live according to His commandments, use their speech to reflect their understanding and discernment. Historically, wisdom literature in the Bible, such as Proverbs, often contrasts the speech of the wise with that of fools, highlighting the transformative power of godly wisdom in everyday life.

spread knowledge
The Hebrew word for "spread" (זָרָה, zarah) can also mean to scatter or sow, suggesting an active and intentional distribution of knowledge. This implies that the wise are not passive in their communication but are deliberate in sharing insights that can edify and instruct others. Knowledge, in the biblical sense, is not merely intellectual but is deeply connected to the fear of the Lord and moral living. The wise, therefore, are seen as stewards of divine truth, tasked with disseminating it to those around them.

but the hearts of fools
Here, "hearts" (לֵב, lev) refers to the inner being, encompassing thoughts, emotions, and will. In biblical anthropology, the heart is the center of one's moral and spiritual life. Fools, in the biblical sense, are not merely lacking in intelligence but are morally deficient, rejecting God's wisdom and guidance. The contrast between the wise and fools is stark, with the latter's inner life being devoid of the truth and understanding that characterize the wise.

are perverse
The term "perverse" (תָּכַן, takan) suggests a deviation from what is right or good. In the context of Proverbs, perversity is often associated with moral corruption and a willful turning away from God's ways. The hearts of fools are described as being twisted or distorted, indicating a fundamental misalignment with God's truth. This highlights the destructive nature of folly, which not only affects the individual but can also lead others astray. The verse serves as a warning against the dangers of rejecting divine wisdom and the consequences of a life lived apart from God's guidance.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) But the heart of the foolish doeth not so.--Or, disperseth that which is not right.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - The lips of the wise disperse knowledge (ver. 2; Proverbs 10:31). The LXX. takes the verb יִרָוּ in its other signification of "binding" or "embracing," and translates, "The lips of the wise are bound (δέδεται) with knowledge;" i.e. knowledge is always on them and controls their movements. The wise know when to speak, when to be silent, and what to say. But the heart of the foolish doeth not so; i.e. doth not disperse knowledge. Vulgate, cor stultorum dissimile erit, "will be unlike," which probably means the same as the Authorized Version. (Compare a similar use of the words lo-ken in Genesis 48:18; Exodus 10:11.) But the contrast is stated rather weakly by this rendering, lips and heart having the same office to perform; hence it is better, with Delitzsch, Ewald, and others, to take כֵן (ken) as an adjective in the sense of "right" or "trustworthy," and either to supply the former verb, "disperseth that which is not right," or to render, "The heart of the foot is not directed right;" the fool goes astray, and leads himself and others into error. Septuagint, "The hearts of fools are not safe (ἀσφαλεῖς)."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The lips
שִׂפְתֵ֣י (śip̄·ṯê)
Noun - fdc
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

of the wise
חֲ֭כָמִים (ḥă·ḵā·mîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2450: Wise

spread
יְזָ֣רוּ (yə·zā·rū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2219: To toss about, to diffuse, winnow

knowledge,
דָ֑עַת (ḏā·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1847: Knowledge

but not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

so
כֵֽן׃ (ḵên)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

the hearts
וְלֵ֖ב (wə·lêḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

of fools.
כְּסִילִ֣ים (kə·sî·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool

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OT Poetry: Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge (Prov. Pro Pr)