A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
Proverbs 15:14
In 11 translations
- BSB
- A discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
- KJV
- The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
- WEB
- The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
- ASV
- The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
- LSV
- The heart of the intelligent seeks knowledge, || And the mouth of fools enjoys folly.
- YLT
- The heart of the intelligent seeketh knowledge, And the mouth of fools enjoyeth folly.
- DBY
- The heart of an intelligent [man] seeketh knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish feedeth on folly.
- DRC
- The heart of the wise seeketh instruction: and the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
- GNV
- The heart of him that hath vnderstanding, seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of the foole is fedde with foolishnes.
- JPS
- The heart of him that hath discernment seeketh knowledge; but the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
- LXXE
- An upright heart seeks discretion; but the mouth of the uninstructed will experience evils.
Word by word Hebrew · tap a word
Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.
Where the editions differ
Editions are published forms of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Meet the editions and sources →
- Written (Ketiv): וּפְנֵי (“and [the] face of”). Read aloud (Qere): וּפִ֥י (“and [the] mouth of”) — the form shown in the word-by-word reader.
Spelling, punctuation and minor wording (1)
- Leningrad Codex reads וּפִ֥ני; read aloud (Qere) reads וּפִ֥י (“and [the] mouth of”).
Edition differences: STEP Bible, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0). Names and codes expanded; consecutive words grouped. Comparisons follow the editions used by the source; see version details.
Original-language editions
- WLC
- לֵ֣ב נָ֭בוֹן יְבַקֶּשׁ־דָּ֑עַת ופני כְ֝סִילִ֗ים יִרְעֶ֥ה אִוֶּֽלֶת׃Read aloud as (qere): וּפִ֥י
- LXX-Br
- Καρδία ὀρθὴ ζητεῖ αἴσθησιν, στόμα δὲ ἀπαιδεύτων γνώσεται κακά.
In the reference works topics that cite this verse
From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).
Cross-references most cited first
- Proverbs 9:9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
- Proverbs 18:15The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
- Isaiah 30:10They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions.
- 2 Peter 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
- Acts 17:11Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
- Proverbs 1:5let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
- Hosea 12:1Ephraim chases the wind and pursues the east wind all day long; he multiplies lies and violence; he makes a covenant with Assyria and sends olive oil to Egypt.
- Psalms 119:97Oh, how I love Your law! All day long it is my meditation.
- Psalms 119:100I discern more than the elders, for I obey Your precepts.
- 1 Kings 3:6–12Solomon replied, “You have shown much loving devotion to Your servant, my father David, because he walked before You in faithfulness, righteousness, and uprightness of heart. And You have maintained this loving…
- Isaiah 44:20He feeds on ashes. His deluded heart has led him astray, and he cannot deliver himself or say, “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”
- Proverbs 12:23A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself, but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.
From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).