# Proverbs 16.23 **Book:** [Proverbs](/codex/proverbs/) · NASB95 ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. 22. Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is their folly. > > **23. The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.** > > 24. Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:21-25, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction. 22. Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly. > > **23. The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.** > > 24. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25. There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 16:21-25, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 21. The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. 22. Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. > > **23. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. teacheth: Heb. maketh wise** > > 24. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 16:21-25, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 21. To the wise in heart is called, 'Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning. 22. A fountain of life [is] understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly. > > **23. The heart of the wise causeth his mouth to act wisely, And by his lips he increaseth learning,** > > 24. Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone. 25. There is a way right before a man, And its latter end, ways of death. (Proverbs 16:21-25, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** _TBD_ - **Audience:** _TBD_ - **Location:** _TBD_ - **Time period:** _TBD_ ## Theological reading _Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._ ## Key words _Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap._ - _TBD_ - _TBD_ - _TBD_ - _TBD_ ## Quoted in **Lexicon:** - [H3824 - lebab](/codex/h3824-lebab/) --- _Scripture quotations taken from the **New American Standard Bible®** (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by **The Lockman Foundation**. Used by permission. All rights reserved. [www.lockman.org](https://www.lockman.org)_ ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.