For the Lord gives wisdom;
from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Get wisdom, get understanding;
don’t forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.

Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.

So now, my sons, listen to me,
and don’t turn away from the words of my mouth.

you have been trapped by the words of your lips—
ensnared by the words of your mouth.

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

For my mouth tells the truth,
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are righteous;
none of them are deceptive or perverse.

Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.

The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate,
but the mouth of the wicked, only what is perverse.

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With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,
but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.

A man will be satisfied with good
by the words of his mouth,
and the work of a man’s hands will reward him.

From the words of his mouth,
a man will enjoy good things,
but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

The one who guards his mouth protects his life;
the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,
but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.

A discerning mind seeks knowledge,
but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering,
but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.

God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.

A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech.

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters,
a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.

A fool’s lips lead to strife,
and his mouth provokes a beating.

A fool’s mouth is his devastation,
and his lips are a trap for his life.

From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is satisfied;
he is filled with the product of his lips.

The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth.

A worthless witness mocks justice,
and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.

The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;
avoid someone with a big mouth.

The one who guards his mouth and tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.

The mouth of the forbidden woman is a deep pit;
a man cursed by the Lord will fall into it.

Wisdom is inaccessible to a fool;
he does not open his mouth at the gate.

A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like lame legs that hang limp.

A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a stick with thorns,
brandished by the hand of a drunkard.

The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he is too weary to bring it to his mouth.

A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

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Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—
a stranger, and not your own lips.

This is the way of an adulteress:
she eats and wipes her mouth
and says, “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

If you have been foolish by exalting yourself
or if you’ve been scheming,
put your hand over your mouth.

She opens her mouth with wisdom
and loving instruction is on her tongue.