Proverbs 10:19
New International Version
Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.

New Living Translation
Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

English Standard Version
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Berean Standard Bible
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

King James Bible
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

New King James Version
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

New American Standard Bible
When there are many words, wrongdoing is unavoidable, But one who restrains his lips is wise.

NASB 1995
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

NASB 1977
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Legacy Standard Bible
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who holds back his lips has insight.

Amplified Bible
When there are many words, transgression and offense are unavoidable, But he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise.

Christian Standard Bible
When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is prudent.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.

American Standard Version
In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
In the multitude of words the evil one is not saved and he who restrains his lips is intelligent.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
By a multitude of words thou shalt not escape sin; but if thou refrain thy lips thou wilt be prudent.

Contemporary English Version
You will say the wrong thing if you talk too much--so be sensible and watch what you say.

Douay-Rheims Bible
In the multitude of words there shall not want sin: but he that refraineth his lips is most wise.

English Revised Version
In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression: but he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Sin is unavoidable when there is much talk, but whoever seals his lips is wise.

Good News Translation
The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet.

International Standard Version
Transgression is at work where people talk too much, but anyone who holds his tongue is prudent.

JPS Tanakh 1917
In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips is wise.

Literal Standard Version
In the abundance of words transgression does not cease, | And whoever is restraining his lips [is] wise.

Majority Standard Bible
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

New American Bible
Where words are many, sin is not wanting; but those who restrain their lips do well.

NET Bible
When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.

New Revised Standard Version
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.

New Heart English Bible
In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.

Webster's Bible Translation
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that restraineth his lips is wise.

World English Bible
In the multitude of words there is no lack of disobedience, but he who restrains his lips does wisely.

Young's Literal Translation
In the abundance of words transgression ceaseth not, And whoso is restraining his lips is wise.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Solomon's Proverbs: The Wise Son
18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool. 19When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. 20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.…

Cross References
James 1:19
My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger,

James 3:2
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body.

Job 11:2
"Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

Proverbs 17:27
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

Proverbs 18:21
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Ecclesiastes 5:2
Do not be quick to speak, and do not be hasty in your heart to utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven and you are on earth. So let your words be few.

Ecclesiastes 5:3
As a dream comes through many cares, so the speech of a fool comes with many words.


Treasury of Scripture

In the multitude of words there wants not sin: but he that refrains his lips is wise.

the multitude

Ecclesiastes 5:3
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

Ecclesiastes 10:13,14
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness…

James 3:2
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

but

Proverbs 17:27,28
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit…

Psalm 39:1
To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

James 1:19
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

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Absent Abundance Ceaseth Disobedience End Holds Keeps Lack Mouth Multitude Prudent Refraineth Restraineth Restrains Sin Talk Tongue Transgression Wanteth Wise Wisely Words
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Absent Abundance Ceaseth Disobedience End Holds Keeps Lack Mouth Multitude Prudent Refraineth Restraineth Restrains Sin Talk Tongue Transgression Wanteth Wise Wisely Words
Proverbs 10
1. Proverbs of Solomon: observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices














(19) In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, for they are sure to fail in truthfulness, or charity, or opportuneness, and will come under the condemnation of Matthew 12:36, as being the outcome of a careless heart.

Verse 19. - There wanteth not sin; LXX., "Thou wilt not avoid sin." Loquacity leads to exaggeration and untruthfulness, slander and uncharitableness (comp. Ecclesiastes 5:1-3; and Christ's and James's solemn warnings, Matthew 12:36; James 1:26; James 3:2, etc.). "Speak little," says Pinart ('Meditations,' ch. 6.), "because for one sin which we may commit by keeping silence where it would be well to speak, we commit a hundred by speaking upon all occasions" (see on Proverbs 17:27), Another rendering of the passage gives "By multitude of words sin does not vanish away;" i.e. you cannot mend a fault by much talking. But this weakens the contrast, and the Authorized Version is correct. Is wise. St. James calls the reticent "a perfect man" (comp. Proverbs 13:3). "This sentence of Scripture," says St. Augustine, in his 'Retractations,' "I greatly fear, because my numerous treatises, I know well, contain many things, if not false, at any rate idle and unnecessary."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When words
דְּ֭בָרִים (də·ḇā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

are many,
בְּרֹ֣ב (bə·rōḇ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness

sin
פָּ֑שַׁע (pā·ša‘)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6588: Transgression

is unavoidable,
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

but he who restrains
וְחֹשֵׂ֖ךְ (wə·ḥō·śêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2820: To restrain, refrain, to refuse, spare, preserve, to observe

his lips
שְׂפָתָ֣יו (śə·p̄ā·ṯāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

is wise.
מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃ (maś·kîl)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7919: To be, circumspect, intelligent


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there (Prov. Pro Pr)
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