Parallel Verses

A Conservative Version

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it is a breaking of the spirit.

New American Standard Bible

A soothing tongue is a tree of life,
But perversion 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.

Holman Bible

The tongue that heals is a tree of life,
but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.

International Standard Version

A gentle statement is a tree of life, but perverted speech shatters the spirit.

American Standard Version

A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.

Amplified


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.

Bible in Basic English

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

Darby Translation

Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life; but crookedness therein is a breaking of the spirit.

Julia Smith Translation

The healing of the tongue the tree of life: and perverseness in it a breaking in the spirit

King James 2000

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Lexham Expanded Bible

Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it [causes] a break in spirit.

Modern King James verseion

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but crookedness in it is a break in the spirit.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; but he that abuseth it, hath a broken mind.

NET Bible

Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit.

New Heart English Bible

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

The Emphasized Bible

Gentleness of the tongue, is a tree of life, but, crookedness therein, a grievous wound in the spirit.

Webster

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness in it is a breach in the spirit.

World English Bible

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

Youngs Literal Translation

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

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
מרפּא 
Marpe' 
Usage: 16

לשׁנה לשׁן לשׁון 
Lashown 
Usage: 116

is a tree
עץ 
`ets 
Usage: 329

of life
חי 
Chay 
Usage: 502

סלף 
Celeph 
Usage: 2

שׁבר שׁבר 
Sheber 
Usage: 44

Context Readings

Proverbs Of Solomon

3 The eyes of LORD are in every place, keeping watch upon the evil and the good. 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it is a breaking of the spirit. 5 A fool despises his father's correction, but he who regards reproof gets prudence.

Cross References

Proverbs 3:18

She is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her. And happy is everyone who retains her.

Proverbs 12:18

There is he who speaks rashly like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is health.

Genesis 3:22-24

And LORD God said, Behold, the man has become as one of us--to know good and evil--and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever--

Psalm 52:2-4

Thy tongue devises wickedness, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

Psalm 109:22

for I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.

Proverbs 16:24

Pleasant words are a honeycomb: Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Proverbs 18:8

The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.

Proverbs 18:14

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?

Proverbs 26:22

The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.

Malachi 4:2

But to you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in its wings, and ye shall go forth, and frolic as calves of the stall.

1 Timothy 6:3

If any man teaches something different, and does not associate with wholesome words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine according to piety,

Revelation 2:7

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the congregations. To him who overcomes, I will give him to eat from the tree of life that is in the midst of the Paradise of my God.

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