Parallel Verses

Bible in Basic English

The tongue of the upright man is like tested silver: the heart of the evil-doer is of little value.

New American Standard Bible

The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

King James Version

The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

Holman Bible

The tongue of the righteous is pure silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little value.

International Standard Version

What the righteous person says is like precious silver; the thoughts of the wicked are compared to small things.

A Conservative Version

The tongue of a righteous man is choice silver. The heart of the wicked is little worth.

American Standard Version

The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth.

Amplified


The tongue of the righteous is like precious silver (greatly valued);
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

Darby Translation

The tongue of the righteous man is as choice silver; the heart of the wicked is little worth.

Julia Smith Translation

The tongue of the just is choice silver: the heart of the unjust is as little.

King James 2000

The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

Lexham Expanded Bible

Choice silver is a tongue of righteousness, a heart of wickedness is {of little worth}.

Modern King James verseion

The tongue of the just is as choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

An innocent tongue is a noble treasure; but the heart of the ungodly is nothing worth.

NET Bible

What the righteous say is like the best silver, but what the wicked think is of little value.

New Heart English Bible

The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

The Emphasized Bible

Choice silver, is the tongue of the righteous, but, the sense of the lawless, is very small.

Webster

The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

World English Bible

The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

Youngs Literal Translation

The tongue of the righteous is chosen silver, The heart of the wicked -- as a little thing.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
The tongue
לשׁנה לשׁן לשׁון 
Lashown 
Usage: 116

of the just
צדּיק 
Tsaddiyq 
Usage: 206

is as choice
בּחר 
Bachar 
Usage: 169

כּסף 
Keceph 
Usage: 403

of the wicked
רשׁע 
Rasha` 
Usage: 263

References

Context Readings

Proverbs Concerning The Mouth

19 Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely. 20 The tongue of the upright man is like tested silver: the heart of the evil-doer is of little value. 21 The lips of the upright man give food to men, but the foolish come to death for need of sense.



Cross References

Proverbs 12:18

There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again.

Genesis 6:5

And the Lord saw that the sin of man was great on the earth, and that all the thoughts of his heart were evil.

Genesis 8:21

And when the sweet smell came up to the Lord, he said in his heart, I will not again put a curse on the earth because of man, for the thoughts of man's heart are evil from his earliest days; never again will I send destruction on all living things as I have done.

Proverbs 8:19

My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver.

Proverbs 15:4

A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit.

Proverbs 16:13

Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.

Proverbs 23:7

For as the thoughts of his heart are, so is he: Take food and drink, he says to you; but his heart is not with you.

Proverbs 25:11-12

A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a network of silver.

Jeremiah 17:9

The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?

Matthew 12:34-35

You offspring of snakes, how are you, being evil, able to say good things? because out of the heart's store come the words of the mouth.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain