Proverbes 16:21

21 Celui qui est sage de coeur est appelé intelligent, Et la douceur des lèvres augmente le savoir.

Proverbes 16:21 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart shall be called prudent
He that has true wisdom in the inward part; who knows his heart and the haughtiness of it; who has the fear of God in it, which is the beginning of wisdom; who is wise unto salvation, not only knows the scheme of it, but is experimentally acquainted with it; who has not head knowledge and wisdom only, but heart knowledge and wisdom, and behaves wisely in his life and conversation; who is so wise and endued with knowledge, as, out of a good conversation, to show his works with meekness of wisdom; such a man is called, reckoned, accounted, and spoken well of, as a prudent man among all wise and knowing persons; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning;
who, besides a wise heart and a knowing head, have the gift of elocution; can deliver themselves in a flowing easy style; can clothe their thoughts with proper words, and convey their ideas in clear expressions, in a very edifying and instructive manner: these communicate knowledge to others, and increase it in themselves: for, while they are improving others, they improve themselves and learning also, whether it be divine or human; these are such who are "apt to teach", ( 1 Timothy 3:2 ) ; and if they have proper hearers to attend them, they will "increase in learning", as a just man does, ( Proverbs 9:9 ) .

Proverbes 16:21 In-Context

19 Mieux vaut être humble avec les humbles Que de partager le butin avec les orgueilleux.
20 Celui qui réfléchit sur les choses trouve le bonheur, Et celui qui se confie en l'Eternel est heureux.
21 Celui qui est sage de coeur est appelé intelligent, Et la douceur des lèvres augmente le savoir.
22 La sagesse est une source de vie pour celui qui la possède; Et le châtiment des insensés, c'est leur folie.
23 Celui qui est sage de coeur manifeste la sagesse par sa bouche, Et l'accroissement de son savoir paraît sur ses lèvres.
The Louis Segond 1910 is in the public domain.