Proverbs Chapter 10 verse 21 Holy Bible
The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
read chapter 10 in ASV
The lips of the upright man give food to men, but the foolish come to death for need of sense.
read chapter 10 in BBE
The lips of a righteous [man] feed many; but fools die for want of understanding.
read chapter 10 in DARBY
The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
read chapter 10 in KJV
read chapter 10 in WBT
The lips of the righteous feed many, But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
read chapter 10 in WEB
The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools for lack of heart die.
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 21. - Feed many. The righteous by wise counsel teach, support, and guide others (Ecclesiastes 12:11; Jeremiah 3:15). So the clergy are the shepherds of their flocks (John 21:15; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). The LXX. has a different reading, "know high things." Fools die for want of wisdom. Far from "feeding" others, they bring ruin on themselves (Proverbs 5:23). Others translate, "die through one who wanteth understanding;" but if the Hebrew will bear this rendering, it is obvious that fools need no guide to their fall; their fate is a natural result. In this case the meaning must be that the foolish man involves others in destruction. But it is best to translate as the Authorized Version.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(21) The lips of the righteous feed many--i.e., sustain them by words of counsel, encouragement, and comfort, giving to each one his "meat in due season "(Matthew 24:45).Fools.--Headstrong, obstinate persons (Proverbs 1:7).For want of wisdom.--Or it may be translated, "Through one who is destitute of wisdom." As one righteous man will guide many aright, so one unwise man will lead many fools to ruin.