Proverbs 16:21
New International Version
The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.

New Living Translation
The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.

English Standard Version
The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

Berean Standard Bible
The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.

King James Bible
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

New King James Version
The wise in heart will be called prudent, And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

New American Standard Bible
The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

NASB 1995
The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

NASB 1977
The wise in heart will be called discerning, And sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

Legacy Standard Bible
The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweetness of lips increases learning.

Amplified Bible
The wise in heart will be called understanding, And sweet speech increases persuasiveness and learning [in both speaker and listener].

Christian Standard Bible
Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech increases learning.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning, and pleasant speech increases learning.

American Standard Version
The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The wise of heart knows understanding, and he whose lips are sweet will increase learning.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Men call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.

Contemporary English Version
Good judgment proves that you are wise, and if you speak kindly, you can teach others.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.

English Revised Version
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The person who is truly wise is called understanding, and speaking sweetly helps others learn.

Good News Translation
A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is.

International Standard Version
The wise-hearted person is told to be discerning, and that pleasant speech promotes instruction.

JPS Tanakh 1917
The wise in heart is called a man of discernment; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Literal Standard Version
For the wise in heart is called intelligent, | And sweetness of lips increases learning.

Majority Standard Bible
The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.

New American Bible
The wise of heart is esteemed for discernment, and pleasing speech gains a reputation for learning.

NET Bible
The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness.

New Revised Standard Version
The wise of heart is called perceptive, and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.

New Heart English Bible
The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

Webster's Bible Translation
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

World English Bible
The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

Young's Literal Translation
To the wise in heart is called, 'Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Reply of the Tongue is from the LORD
20Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD. 21The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction. 22Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.…

Cross References
Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

Proverbs 16:22
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.

Proverbs 16:23
The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Hosea 14:9
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.


Treasury of Scripture

The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.

wise

Proverbs 16:23
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

Proverbs 10:8
The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

Proverbs 23:15
My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

the sweetness

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Proverbs 15:7
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

Proverbs 27:9
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

Jump to Previous
Discerning Discernment Good Heart Increased Increases Increaseth Instruction Intelligent Lips Persuasiveness Pleasant Pleasantness Pleasing Promote Promotes Prudent Sense Speech Sweetness Understanding Wise Wise-Hearted Words
Jump to Next
Discerning Discernment Good Heart Increased Increases Increaseth Instruction Intelligent Lips Persuasiveness Pleasant Pleasantness Pleasing Promote Promotes Prudent Sense Speech Sweetness Understanding Wise Wise-Hearted Words
Proverbs 16
1. The Plans of the heart














(21) The sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.--Power to express the thoughts in graceful language adds greatly to the value of learning.

Verse 21. - The wise in heart shall be called prudent. True wisdom is recognized and acknowledged as such, especially when it has the gift of expressing itself appropriately (see on Proverbs 24:8). The sweetness (Proverbs 27:9) of the lips increaseth learning. People listen to instruction at the mouth of one who speaks well and winningly. Such a one augments knowledge in others, and in himself too, for he learns by teaching. Knowledge ought not to be buried in one's own mind, but produced on fit occasions and in suitable words for the edification of others. Ecclus. 20:30, "Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is hoarded up, what profit is in them both?" (see Matthew 5:15). Septuagint, "The wise and prudent they call worthless (φαύλους); but they who are sweet in word shall hear more." Wise men are called bad and worthless by the vulgar herd, either because they do not impart all they know, or because they are envied fear their learning; but those who are eloquent and gracious in speech shall receive much instruction from what they bear, every one being ready to converse with them anal impart any knowledge which they possess.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The wise
לַחֲכַם־ (la·ḥă·ḵam-)
Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2450: Wise

in heart
לֵ֭ב (lêḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

will be called
יִקָּרֵ֣א (yiq·qā·rê)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

discerning,
נָב֑וֹן (nā·ḇō·wn)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

and pleasant
וּמֶ֥תֶק (ū·me·ṯeq)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4986: Pleasantness

speech
שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם (p̄ā·ṯa·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

increases
יֹסִ֥יף (yō·sîp̄)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3254: To add, augment

learning.
לֶֽקַח׃ (le·qaḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3948: Something received, instruction, inveiglement


Links
Proverbs 16:21 NIV
Proverbs 16:21 NLT
Proverbs 16:21 ESV
Proverbs 16:21 NASB
Proverbs 16:21 KJV

Proverbs 16:21 BibleApps.com
Proverbs 16:21 Biblia Paralela
Proverbs 16:21 Chinese Bible
Proverbs 16:21 French Bible
Proverbs 16:21 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Proverbs 16:21 The wise in heart shall be called (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 16:20
Top of Page
Top of Page