Proverbs 18:6
New International Version
The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.

New Living Translation
Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels; they are asking for a beating.

English Standard Version
A fool’s lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating.

Berean Standard Bible
A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.

King James Bible
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

New King James Version
A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows.

New American Standard Bible
A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth invites beatings.

NASB 1995
A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth calls for blows.

NASB 1977
A fool’s lips bring strife, And his mouth calls for blows.

Legacy Standard Bible
A fool’s lips come with strife, And his mouth calls for beatings.

Amplified Bible
A fool’s lips bring contention and strife, And his mouth invites a beating.

Christian Standard Bible
A fool’s lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A fool’s lips lead to strife, and his mouth provokes a beating.

American Standard Version
A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.

Contemporary English Version
Foolish talk will get you into a lot of trouble.

English Revised Version
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for stripes.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
By talking, a fool gets into an argument, and his mouth invites a beating.

Good News Translation
When some fool starts an argument, he is asking for a beating.

International Standard Version
A fool's words bring strife, and his mouth invites fighting.

Majority Standard Bible
A fool?s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.

NET Bible
The lips of a fool enter into strife, and his mouth invites a flogging.

New Heart English Bible
A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.

Webster's Bible Translation
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

World English Bible
A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The lips of a fool enter into strife, "" And his mouth calls for stripes.

Young's Literal Translation
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.

Smith's Literal Translation
The lips of the foolish one will come into contention, and his mouth will call for blows.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts.

New American Bible
The lips of fools walk into a fight, and their mouths are asking for a beating.

New Revised Standard Version
A fool’s lips bring strife, and a fool’s mouth invites a flogging.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth brings him to death,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The lips of a fool bring into judgment and his mouth brings him to death.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for strokes.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The lips of a fool bring him into troubles, and his bold mouth calls for death.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
5Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice. 6A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. 7A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.…

Cross References
James 3:5-6
In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. / The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Proverbs 10:14
The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.

Proverbs 12:13
An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.

Proverbs 13:3
He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.

Proverbs 14:3
The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.

Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool spouts folly.

Proverbs 19:29
Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

Proverbs 26:4-5
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him. / Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.

Proverbs 29:11
A fool vents all his anger, but a wise man holds it back.

Matthew 12:36-37
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. / For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Ecclesiastes 10:12-14
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him. / The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness. / Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Colossians 3:8
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

1 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.


Treasury of Scripture

A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for strokes.

fools

Proverbs 12:16
A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

Proverbs 13:10
Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Proverbs 14:16
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

his

Proverbs 14:3
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

Proverbs 19:19
A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.

Proverbs 22:24-25
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: …

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Beating Beatings Blows Calls Cause Contention Enter Fighting Flogging Foolish Fool's Invites Lips Makes Mouth Open Strife Stripes Strokes
Proverbs 18
1. A fool delights not in understanding














A fool’s lips
The term "fool" in Hebrew is "kesil," which often refers to someone who is morally deficient or lacking in wisdom. In the context of Proverbs, a fool is not merely someone who lacks intelligence, but rather someone who rejects God’s wisdom and guidance. The "lips" symbolize speech and communication. Thus, the phrase suggests that the words spoken by a fool are reckless and lead to trouble. Historically, speech has been a powerful tool, and in ancient Israel, as today, words could build up or destroy. The fool's lips, therefore, are a metaphor for the careless and destructive use of speech.

walk into strife
The imagery of "walking" into strife suggests a deliberate or inevitable movement towards conflict. The Hebrew word for "strife" is "madon," which implies contention or dispute. In the ancient Near Eastern context, strife often led to social discord and even violence. The phrase indicates that the fool's speech naturally leads to quarrels and disputes, highlighting the destructive power of words when not guided by wisdom. This serves as a warning to the faithful to guard their speech and seek peace.

and his mouth invites a beating
The "mouth" here is synonymous with the words or speech of the fool. The Hebrew word for "invites" can also mean "calls for" or "summons," suggesting that the fool's speech actively provokes a negative response. The "beating" is a metaphor for the consequences of foolish speech, which can lead to physical or social repercussions. In the historical context, physical punishment was a common consequence for slander or inciting discord. This phrase underscores the principle that reckless words can lead to personal harm, emphasizing the importance of self-control and wisdom in communication.

(6) His mouth calleth for strokes, which he provokes by his insolence and quarrelsomeness.

Verse 6. - A fool's lips enter into contention; literally, come with quarrel (comp. Psalm 66:13); i.e. they lead him into strife and quarrels; miscent se rixis, Vulgate; "lead him into evils," Septuagint. The foolish man meddles with disputes in which he is not concerned, and by his silly interference not only exposes himself to reprisals, but also exacerbates the original difficulty. His mouth calleth for strokes. His words provoke severe punishment, "stripes for his back," as it is said in Proverbs 19:29. Septuagint, "His mouth which is audacious calls for death."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A fool’s
כְ֭סִיל (ḵə·sîl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3684: Stupid fellow, dullard, fool

lips
שִׂפְתֵ֣י (śip̄·ṯê)
Noun - fdc
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

bring
יָבֹ֣אֽוּ (yā·ḇō·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

strife,
בְרִ֑יב (ḇə·rîḇ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7379: Strife, dispute

and his mouth
וּ֝פִ֗יו (ū·p̄îw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

invites
יִקְרָֽא׃ (yiq·rā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

a beating.
לְֽמַהֲלֻמ֥וֹת (lə·ma·hă·lu·mō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4112: Strokes, blows


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 18:6 A fool's lips come into strife (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 18:5
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