Ecclesiastes 10:12 nasb — Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;

NASB

"Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;"

— Ecclesiastes 10:12, NASB

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Ecclesiastes 10:12 in Other Translations

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Ecclesiastes 10 — Context

9

He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits logs may be endangered by them.

10

If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success.

11

If the serpent bites before being charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.

12

Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;

13

the beginning of his talking is folly and the end of it is wicked madness.

14

Yet the fool multiplies words. No man knows what will happen, and who can tell him what will come after him?

15

The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.

Ecclesiastes 10:12 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Ecclesiastes 10:12 say?
Ecclesiastes 10:12 in the NASB reads: “Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;”
Where is Ecclesiastes 10:12 in the Bible?
Ecclesiastes 10:12 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 10, verse 12.
Who wrote Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon (traditional; identified as "the Preacher, son of David"). It was written c. 940 BC.
What is the book of Ecclesiastes about?
Ecclesiastes is a candid meditation on life "under the sun" — its pleasures, its pains, and its apparent vanity. The Preacher tries wisdom, wealth, work, and pleasure, finds them all empty without God, and concludes that fearing God and keeping his commandments is the whole of man.
What are the major themes of Ecclesiastes?
Ecclesiastes explores themes including Vanity, Time, Meaning, Fear of God, Mortality. These themes shape the meaning and context of Ecclesiastes 10:12.
What translation should I read Ecclesiastes 10:12 in?
Ecclesiastes 10:12 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Ecclesiastes 10:12?
Ecclesiastes 10:12 reads (NASB): “Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him;” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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