Proverbs 15:4
New International Version
The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

New Living Translation
Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

English Standard Version
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Berean Standard Bible
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

King James Bible
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

New King James Version
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

New American Standard Bible
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.

NASB 1995
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.

NASB 1977
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.

Legacy Standard Bible
A tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, But perversion in it breaks the spirit.

Amplified Bible
A soothing tongue [speaking words that build up and encourage] is a tree of life, But a perversive tongue [speaking words that overwhelm and depress] crushes the spirit.

Christian Standard Bible
The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.

American Standard Version
A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The tree of life is the healing of the tongue, and he that eats its fruit will be filled by it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The wholesome tongue is a tree of life, and he that keeps it shall be filled with understanding.

Contemporary English Version
Kind words are good medicine, but deceitful words can really hurt.

Douay-Rheims Bible
A peaceable tongue is a tree of life: but that which is immoderate, shall crush the spirit.

English Revised Version
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue breaks the spirit.

Good News Translation
Kind words bring life, but cruel words crush your spirit.

International Standard Version
A gentle statement is a tree of life, but perverted speech shatters the spirit.

JPS Tanakh 1917
A soothing tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a wound to the spirit.

Literal Standard Version
A healed tongue [is] a tree of life, | And perverseness in it—a breach in the spirit.

Majority Standard Bible
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

New American Bible
A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse one breaks the spirit.

NET Bible
Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit.

New Revised Standard Version
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

New Heart English Bible
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

Webster's Bible Translation
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness in it is a breach in the spirit.

World English Bible
A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.

Young's Literal Translation
A healed tongue is a tree of life, And perverseness in it -- a breach in the spirit.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good. 4A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. 5A fool rejects his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.…

Cross References
Revelation 2:7
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant the right to eat from the tree of life in the Paradise of God.

Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, and those who lay hold of her are blessed.

Proverbs 12:18
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.

Proverbs 15:5
A fool rejects his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction is prudent.


Treasury of Scripture

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

a wholesome

Proverbs 12:18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

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

Malachi 4:2
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

a tree

Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

Genesis 3:22-24
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: …

1 Timothy 6:3
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

a breach

Proverbs 18:8,14
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly…

Proverbs 26:22
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Psalm 52:2-4
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp rasor, working deceitfully…

Jump to Previous
Breach Breaking Breaks Comforting Crookedness Crushes Crushing Deceit Deceitful Gentle Gentleness Healed Healing Life Perverseness Perversion Soothing Spirit Therein Tongue Tree Twisted Wholesome Wound
Jump to Next
Breach Breaking Breaks Comforting Crookedness Crushes Crushing Deceit Deceitful Gentle Gentleness Healed Healing Life Perverseness Perversion Soothing Spirit Therein Tongue Tree Twisted Wholesome Wound
Proverbs 15
1. A gentle answer turns away wrath














(4) A wholesome tongue.--One which heals and soothes by its gentleness and judicious words. (Comp. Proverbs 12:18.)

A tree of life.--Comp. Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:30.

Perverseness.--Distortion of the truth. (Comp. Proverbs 11:3.)

A breach in the spirit--i.e., deeply wounds another's spirit. . . .

Verse 4. - A wholesome tongue is a tree of life; a tongue that brings healing, that soothes by its words. Septuagint, "the healing of the tongue." But the Vulgate rendering is better, lingua placabilis, "the gentle, mild tongue" (see on Proverbs 14:30). Speech from such a source refreshes and vivifies all who come under its influence, like the wholesome fruit of a prolific tree (comp. Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 11:30).

Ψυχῆς νοσούσης ἐστὶ φάρμακον λόγος

"The sick soul by a healing word is cured." But perverseness therein - in the tongue - is a breach in the spirit. The perverseness intended must be falsehood, perversion of the truth. This is ruin and vexation (Isaiah 65:14, where the same word is used) in the spirit, both in the liar himself, whose higher nature is thus terribly marred and spoiled, and in the case of his neighbour, who is injured by his slander and falsehood to the, very core. The LXX., with a different reading, translates, "But he who keepeth it [the tongue] shall be filled with the spirit."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A soothing
מַרְפֵּ֣א (mar·pê)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4832: Curative, a medicine, a cure, deliverance, placidity

tongue
לָ֭שׁוֹן (lā·šō·wn)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 3956: The tongue

is a tree
עֵ֣ץ (‘êṣ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

of life,
חַיִּ֑ים (ḥay·yîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

but a perverse [tongue]
וְסֶ֥לֶף (wə·se·lep̄)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5558: Crookedness, crooked dealing

crushes
שֶׁ֣בֶר (še·ḇer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7667: A breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash

the spirit.
בְּרֽוּחַ׃ (bə·rū·aḥ)
Preposition-b | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit


Links
Proverbs 15:4 NIV
Proverbs 15:4 NLT
Proverbs 15:4 ESV
Proverbs 15:4 NASB
Proverbs 15:4 KJV

Proverbs 15:4 BibleApps.com
Proverbs 15:4 Biblia Paralela
Proverbs 15:4 Chinese Bible
Proverbs 15:4 French Bible
Proverbs 15:4 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Proverbs 15:4 A gentle tongue is a tree (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 15:3
Top of Page
Top of Page