For the Lord gives [skillful and godly] wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

“Get [skillful and godly] wisdom! Acquire understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]!
Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth.

For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey [like a honeycomb]
And her speech is smoother than oil;

Now then, my sons, listen to me
And do not depart from (forget) the words of my mouth.

If you have been snared with the words of your lips,
If you have been trapped by the speech of your mouth,

A worthless person, a wicked man,
Is one who walks with a perverse (corrupt, vulgar) mouth.

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
And pay attention to the words of my mouth.

“For my mouth will utter truth,
And wickedness is repulsive and loathsome to my lips.

“All the words of my mouth are in righteousness (upright, in right standing with God);
There is nothing contrary to truth or perverted (crooked) in them.

Blessings are on the head of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God],
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life and his words of wisdom are a source of blessing,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence and evil.

Wise men store up and treasure knowledge [in mind and heart],
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

The lips of the righteous know (speak) what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked knows (speaks) what is perverted (twisted).

With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge and discernment the righteous will be rescued.

By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

The [malevolent] words of the wicked lie in wait for [innocent] blood [to slander],
But the mouth of the upright will rescue and protect them.

From the fruit of his mouth a [wise] man enjoys good,
But the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

The one who guards his mouth [thinking before he speaks] protects his life;
The one who opens his lips wide [and chatters without thinking] comes to ruin.

In the mouth of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God] is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise [when they speak with godly wisdom] will protect them.

The tongue of the wise speaks knowledge that is pleasing and acceptable,
But the [babbling] mouth of fools spouts folly.

The mind of the intelligent and discerning seeks knowledge and eagerly inquires after it,
But the mouth of the [stubborn] fool feeds on foolishness.

The heart of the righteous thinks carefully about how to answer [in a wise and appropriate and timely way],
But the [babbling] mouth of the wicked pours out malevolent things.

A divine decision [given by God] is on the lips of the king [as His representative];
His mouth should not be unfaithful or unjust in judgment.

The heart of the wise instructs his mouth [in wisdom]
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

The appetite of a worker works for him,
For his hunger urges him on.

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];
The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].

A fool’s lips bring contention and strife,
And his mouth invites a beating.

A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.

A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.

The lazy man buries his hand in the [food] dish,
But will not even bring it to his mouth again.

A wicked and worthless witness mocks justice,
And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity.

Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel [just as sin may be sweet at first, but later its consequences bring despair].

He who guards his mouth and his tongue
Guards himself from troubles.

The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit [deep and inescapable];
He who is cursed by the Lord [because of his adulterous sin] will fall into it.

Wisdom is too exalted for a [hardened, arrogant] fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate [where the city’s rulers sit in judgment].

Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom].

Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man,
So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom].

The lazy person buries his hand in the dish [losing opportunity after opportunity];
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.

This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth
And says, “I have done no wrong.”

If you have foolishly exalted yourself,
Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.

Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all who are unfortunate and defenseless;

Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And administer justice for the afflicted and needy.

She opens her mouth in [skillful and godly] wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue [giving counsel and instruction].