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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Proverbs 15:4
Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- BridgewayEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
The tongue that heals is a tree of life,but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.
The tongue that heals is a tree of life,but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.
Hebrew Names Version
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, But deceit in it crushes the spirit.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, But deceit in it crushes the spirit.
King James Version
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
English Standard Version
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
New American Standard Bible
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
New Century Version
As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life, but dishonest words crush the spirit.
As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life, but dishonest words crush the spirit.
Amplified Bible
A soothing tongue [speaking words that build up and encourage] is a tree of life, But a perversive tongue [speaking words that overwhelm and depress] crushes the spirit.
A soothing tongue [speaking words that build up and encourage] is a tree of life, But a perversive tongue [speaking words that overwhelm and depress] crushes the spirit.
World English Bible
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, But deceit in it crushes the spirit.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, But deceit in it crushes the spirit.
Geneva Bible (1587)
A wholesome tongue is as a tree of life: but the frowardnes therof is the breaking of ye minde.
A wholesome tongue is as a tree of life: but the frowardnes therof is the breaking of ye minde.
Legacy Standard Bible
A tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,But perversion in it breaks the spirit.
A tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,But perversion in it breaks the spirit.
Berean Standard Bible
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Contemporary English Version
Kind words are good medicine, but deceitful words can really hurt.
Kind words are good medicine, but deceitful words can really hurt.
Complete Jewish Bible
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but when it twists things, it breaks the spirit.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but when it twists things, it breaks the spirit.
Darby Translation
Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life; but crookedness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life; but crookedness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
Easy-to-Read Version
Kind words are like a life-giving tree, but lying words will crush your spirit.
Kind words are like a life-giving tree, but lying words will crush your spirit.
George Lamsa Translation
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he who eats of its fruit shall be filled with it.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he who eats of its fruit shall be filled with it.
Good News Translation
Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit.
Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit.
Lexham English Bible
Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it causes a break in spirit.
Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it causes a break in spirit.
Literal Translation
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it is a break of the spirit.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it is a break of the spirit.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
A wholsome tonge is a tre of life, but he that abuseth it, hath a broken mynde.
A wholsome tonge is a tre of life, but he that abuseth it, hath a broken mynde.
American Standard Version
A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
Bible in Basic English
A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.
A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
A soothing tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a wound to the spirit.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life; but perverseness therein is a wound to the spirit.
King James Version (1611)
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but peruersnesse therein is a breach in the spirit.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but peruersnesse therein is a breach in the spirit.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
A wholsome tongue is a tree of lyfe: but the frowardnesse therof doth make sad the spirite.
A wholsome tongue is a tree of lyfe: but the frowardnesse therof doth make sad the spirite.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.
The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.
English Revised Version
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
A plesaunt tunge is the tre of lijf; but the tunge which is vnmesurable, schal defoule the spirit.
A plesaunt tunge is the tre of lijf; but the tunge which is vnmesurable, schal defoule the spirit.
Update Bible Version
A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
Webster's Bible Translation
A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness in it [is] a breach in the spirit.
A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness in it [is] a breach in the spirit.
New English Translation
Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit.
Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit.
New King James Version
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
New Living Translation
Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
New Life Bible
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but a sinful tongue crushes the spirit.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but a sinful tongue crushes the spirit.
New Revised Standard
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Gentleness of the tongue, is a tree of life, but, crookedness therein, a grievous wound in the spirit.
Gentleness of the tongue, is a tree of life, but, crookedness therein, a grievous wound in the spirit.
Douay-Rheims Bible
A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is immoderate, shall crush the spirit.
A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is immoderate, shall crush the spirit.
Revised Standard Version
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Young's Literal Translation
A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it -- a breach in the spirit.
A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, And perverseness in it -- a breach in the spirit.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
Contextual Overview
4 Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
A wholesome: Heb. The healing of the, Proverbs 12:18, Proverbs 16:24, Malachi 4:2
a tree: Proverbs 3:18, Genesis 3:22-24, 1 Timothy 6:3, Revelation 2:7
a breach: Proverbs 18:8, Proverbs 18:14, Proverbs 26:22, Psalms 52:2-4, Psalms 109:22
Reciprocal: Proverbs 10:20 - tongue Proverbs 10:21 - feed Proverbs 11:30 - fruit Matthew 12:35 - good man Colossians 4:6 - your
Cross-References
2 Samuel 7:12
God's Covenant with David Before long, the king made himself at home and God gave him peace from all his enemies. Then one day King David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look at this: Here I am, comfortable in a luxurious house of cedar, and the Chest of God sits in a plain tent." Nathan told the king, "Whatever is on your heart, go and do it. God is with you." But that night, the word of God came to Nathan saying, "Go and tell my servant David: This is God 's word on the matter: You're going to build a ‘house' for me to live in? Why, I haven't lived in a ‘house' from the time I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt till now. All that time I've moved about with nothing but a tent. And in all my travels with Israel, did I ever say to any of the leaders I commanded to shepherd Israel, ‘Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?' "So here is what you are to tell my servant David: The God -of-the-Angel-Armies has this word for you: I took you from the pasture, tagging along after sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel. I was with you everywhere you went and mowed your enemies down before you. Now I'm making you famous, to be ranked with the great names on earth. And I'm going to set aside a place for my people Israel and plant them there so they'll have their own home and not be knocked around any more. Nor will evil men afflict you as they always have, even during the days I set judges over my people Israel. Finally, I'm going to give you peace from all your enemies. "Furthermore, God has this message for you: God himself will build you a house! When your life is complete and you're buried with your ancestors, then I'll raise up your child, your own flesh and blood, to succeed you, and I'll firmly establish his rule. He will build a house to honor me, and I will guarantee his kingdom's rule permanently. I'll be a father to him, and he'll be a son to me. When he does wrong, I'll discipline him in the usual ways, the pitfalls and obstacles of this mortal life. But I'll never remove my gracious love from him, as I removed it from Saul, who preceded you and whom I most certainly did remove. Your family and your kingdom are permanently secured. I'm keeping my eye on them! And your royal throne will always be there, rock solid." Nathan gave David a complete and accurate account of everything he heard and saw in the vision. King David went in, took his place before God , and prayed: "Who am I, my Master God , and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that's nothing compared to what's coming, for you've also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow, my Master God ! What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God , just as I am. You've done all this not because of who I am but because of who you are—out of your very heart!—but you've let me in on it. "This is what makes you so great, Master God ! There is none like you, no God but you, nothing to compare with what we've heard with our own ears. And who is like your people, like Israel, a nation unique in the earth, whom God set out to redeem for himself (and became most famous for it), performing great and fearsome acts, throwing out nations and their gods left and right as you saved your people from Egypt? You established for yourself a people—your very own Israel!—your people permanently. And you, God , became their God. "So now, great God , this word that you have spoken to me and my family, guarantee it permanently! Do exactly what you've promised! Then your reputation will flourish always as people exclaim, ‘The God -of-the-Angel-Armies is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will remain sure and solid in your watchful presence. For you, God -of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God, told me plainly, ‘I will build you a house.' That's how I was able to find the courage to pray this prayer to you. "And now, Master God , being the God you are, speaking sure words as you do, and having just said this wonderful thing to me, please, just one more thing: Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You've already as much as said that you would, Master God ! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently!"
God's Covenant with David Before long, the king made himself at home and God gave him peace from all his enemies. Then one day King David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look at this: Here I am, comfortable in a luxurious house of cedar, and the Chest of God sits in a plain tent." Nathan told the king, "Whatever is on your heart, go and do it. God is with you." But that night, the word of God came to Nathan saying, "Go and tell my servant David: This is God 's word on the matter: You're going to build a ‘house' for me to live in? Why, I haven't lived in a ‘house' from the time I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt till now. All that time I've moved about with nothing but a tent. And in all my travels with Israel, did I ever say to any of the leaders I commanded to shepherd Israel, ‘Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?' "So here is what you are to tell my servant David: The God -of-the-Angel-Armies has this word for you: I took you from the pasture, tagging along after sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel. I was with you everywhere you went and mowed your enemies down before you. Now I'm making you famous, to be ranked with the great names on earth. And I'm going to set aside a place for my people Israel and plant them there so they'll have their own home and not be knocked around any more. Nor will evil men afflict you as they always have, even during the days I set judges over my people Israel. Finally, I'm going to give you peace from all your enemies. "Furthermore, God has this message for you: God himself will build you a house! When your life is complete and you're buried with your ancestors, then I'll raise up your child, your own flesh and blood, to succeed you, and I'll firmly establish his rule. He will build a house to honor me, and I will guarantee his kingdom's rule permanently. I'll be a father to him, and he'll be a son to me. When he does wrong, I'll discipline him in the usual ways, the pitfalls and obstacles of this mortal life. But I'll never remove my gracious love from him, as I removed it from Saul, who preceded you and whom I most certainly did remove. Your family and your kingdom are permanently secured. I'm keeping my eye on them! And your royal throne will always be there, rock solid." Nathan gave David a complete and accurate account of everything he heard and saw in the vision. King David went in, took his place before God , and prayed: "Who am I, my Master God , and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that's nothing compared to what's coming, for you've also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow, my Master God ! What can I possibly say in the face of all this? You know me, Master God , just as I am. You've done all this not because of who I am but because of who you are—out of your very heart!—but you've let me in on it. "This is what makes you so great, Master God ! There is none like you, no God but you, nothing to compare with what we've heard with our own ears. And who is like your people, like Israel, a nation unique in the earth, whom God set out to redeem for himself (and became most famous for it), performing great and fearsome acts, throwing out nations and their gods left and right as you saved your people from Egypt? You established for yourself a people—your very own Israel!—your people permanently. And you, God , became their God. "So now, great God , this word that you have spoken to me and my family, guarantee it permanently! Do exactly what you've promised! Then your reputation will flourish always as people exclaim, ‘The God -of-the-Angel-Armies is God over Israel!' And the house of your servant David will remain sure and solid in your watchful presence. For you, God -of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel's God, told me plainly, ‘I will build you a house.' That's how I was able to find the courage to pray this prayer to you. "And now, Master God , being the God you are, speaking sure words as you do, and having just said this wonderful thing to me, please, just one more thing: Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You've already as much as said that you would, Master God ! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently!"
2 Samuel 16:11
"Besides," continued David to Abishai and the rest of his servants, "my own son, my flesh and bone, is right now trying to kill me; compared to that this Benjaminite is small potatoes. Don't bother with him; let him curse; he's preaching God 's word to me. And who knows, maybe God will see the trouble I'm in today and exchange the curses for something good."
"Besides," continued David to Abishai and the rest of his servants, "my own son, my flesh and bone, is right now trying to kill me; compared to that this Benjaminite is small potatoes. Don't bother with him; let him curse; he's preaching God 's word to me. And who knows, maybe God will see the trouble I'm in today and exchange the curses for something good."
Gill's Notes on the Bible
A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life,.... A tongue that delivers out salutary instructions, wholesome advice and counsel; a "healing tongue" w, as it may be rendered, which pacifies contending parties, and heals the divisions between them; to have the benefit of such a man's company and conversation is like being in paradise. Such is the tongue of a Gospel minister, which delivers out the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ; sound speech and doctrines, which cannot be condemned; healing truths to wounded consciences, such as peace, pardon, righteousness, and atonement by the blood of Christ. These are the means of quickening dead sinners, reviving and comforting distressed ones, and show the way of eternal life unto them;
but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit; impure, unchaste, unsavoury, and corrupt language, does mischief to the spirits of men; evil communications corrupt the heart and manners, defile the soul and the conversation; these and unsound doctrines eat as a canker; and as they make the heart of God's people sad, whom he would not have made sad; so they bring distress and despair into the spirits of others, and make sad wounds and breaches there, which are never healed, and that both in the spirits of speakers and hearers; for damnable heresies bring swift destruction on the propagators of them, and them that receive them.
w מרפא "sanans", so some in Vatablus.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
A wholesome tongue - literally, as in the margin, the same word as “sound” in Proverbs 14:30 (see the note). A more literal rendering would be soundness of speech.
Tree of life - Compare Proverbs 3:18 note.
Breach in the spirit - With the sense of vexation (compare Isaiah 65:14).
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 15:4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life — Here again is an allusion to the paradisiacal tree, עץ חיים ets chaiyim, "the tree of lives."
