Meet God in Scripture

Meet God in Ecclesiastes 10:12

“The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.”

Ecclesiastes 10:12 (KJV)

Six ways to encounter God here

A passage is not only to be understood; it is to be lived with. Choose how you want to meet God in Ecclesiastes 10:12, and Living Bread opens it right there.

Read itSit with the words themselves in The Word.Study itContext, cross-references, and questions in Bible Study.Be still in itLet it quiet you in the Sanctuary.Pray itTurn it into a prayer of your own.Hide it in your heartMemorize it, word by word.Encounter it togetherGather a few people to walk through it.

The passage in its setting

Meeting God in a verse begins with hearing it where it lives, in the flow of Ecclesiastes 10. Read it slowly, and let the focal verse settle into its own context.

10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.

12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?

The web of Scripture around it

Where this passage echoes across the Bible, from the cross-reference graph, 14 connected Scriptures. Each one is a door to meet God there too.

  • Colossians 4:6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
  • Luke 4:22And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
  • Proverbs 15:2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
  • Proverbs 22:11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
  • Ephesians 4:29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
  • Proverbs 10:20The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
  • Proverbs 10:13In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
  • Proverbs 10:31The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
  • Luke 19:22And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
  • Proverbs 26:9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
  • Proverbs 12:18There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
  • Proverbs 15:23A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
  • Proverbs 18:6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
  • Proverbs 22:17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

More to meet God in Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes 3:1Ecclesiastes 4:9Ecclesiastes 5:8Ecclesiastes 4:1Ecclesiastes 11:9Ecclesiastes 9:10Ecclesiastes 3:2Ecclesiastes 12:1Ecclesiastes 10:19Ecclesiastes 3:7Ecclesiastes 3:17Ecclesiastes 9:11Ecclesiastes 11:8Ecclesiastes 7:14

How it points to Christ

Every Scripture ultimately leads to Jesus. See how the whole Bible points to Him in Christ in all Scripture, then meet Him for yourself.