7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. 8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. 9 Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
Proverbs 18:7–9
Semantically similar passages
Proverbs 13:2–4
2 From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence. 3 He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin. 4 The slacker craves yet has nothing, but the soul of the diligent is…
Ecclesiastes 10:11–13
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. 13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Proverbs 26:21–23
21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. 23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
Proverbs 18:20–22
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. 21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. 22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
Proverbs 14:2–4
2 He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him. 3 The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them. 4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest co…
Proverbs 10:18–20
18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. 19 When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.
Proverbs 10:9–11
9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. 10 He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin. 11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Proverbs 14:22–24
22 Do not those who contrive evil go astray? But those who plan goodness find loving devotion and faithfulness. 23 There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 24 The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly.
Search the collection All books and codes Translations and sources