4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4
Semantically similar passages
Proverbs 18:20–22
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. 21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:23–25
23 The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips. 24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 12:17–19
17 He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit. 18 Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
Proverbs 10:10–12
10 He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
Sirach 40:20–22
20 Wine and music rejoice the heart. The love of wisdom is better than both. (WEB) 21 The pipe and the lute make pleasant melody. A pleasant tongue is better than both. (WEB) 22 Your eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than both. (WEB)
Proverbs 10:30–32
30 The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not inhabit the land. 31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
Sirach 28:16–18
16 He who listens to it will not find rest, nor will he live quietly. (WEB) 17 The stroke of a whip makes a mark in the flesh, but the stroke of a tongue will break bones. (WEB) 18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, yet not so many as those who have fallen because of the to… (WEB)
Proverbs 10:19–21
19 When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
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