Parallel Verses

Youngs Literal Translation

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

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.

Bible in Basic English

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

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.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
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 In the abundance of words transgression ceaseth not, And whoso is restraining his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the righteous is chosen silver, The heart of the wicked -- as a little thing. 21 The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die.

Cross References

Proverbs 12:18

A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.

Genesis 6:5

And Jehovah seeth that abundant is the wickedness of man in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart only evil all the day;

Genesis 8:21

and Jehovah smelleth the sweet fragrance, and Jehovah saith unto His heart, 'I continue not to disesteem any more the ground because of man, though the imagination of the heart of man is evil from his youth; and I continue not to smite any more all living, as I have done;

Proverbs 8:19

Better is my fruit than gold, even fine gold, And mine increase than choice silver.

Proverbs 15:4

A healed tongue is a tree of life, And perverseness in it -- a breach in the spirit.

Proverbs 16:13

The delight of kings are righteous lips, And whoso is speaking uprightly he loveth,

Proverbs 23:7

For as he hath thought in his soul, so is he, 'Eat and drink,' saith he to thee, And his heart is not with thee.

Proverbs 25:11-12

Apples of gold in imagery of silver, Is the word spoken at its fit times.

Jeremiah 17:9

Crooked is the heart above all things, And it is incurable -- who doth know it?

Matthew 12:34-35

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.

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