King James Version

Proverbs 16:21

The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

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Hebrew

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לַחֲכַםlachakhamto wise , manחָכָםpreposition, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, construct — “to wise , man”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2450wise, (i.e. intelligent, skilful or artful)cunning (man), subtil, (un-), wise((hearted), man).לֵ֭בlevcomfortablyלֵבnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “comfortably”, the ordinary formH3820the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything[phrase] care for, comfortably, consent, [idiom] considered, courag(-eous), friend(-ly), ((broken-), (hard-), (merry-), (stiff-), (stout-), double) heart(-ed), [idiom] heed, [idiom] I, kindly, midst, mind(-ed), [idiom] regard(-ed), [idiom]…יִקָּרֵ֣אyiqarecallקָרָאverb, niphal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “call”, an unfinished actionH7121to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.נָב֑וֹןnavonunderstandבִּיןverb, niphal, participle, absolute — “understand”, a verb used as a describing wordH995to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understandattend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) und…וּמֶ֥תֶקumeteqand sweetnessמֶתֶקconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “and sweetness”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4986figuratively, pleasantness (of discourse)sweetness.שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִםsefatayimlanguageשָׂפָהnoun, common, feminine, dual, absolute — “language”, the ordinary formH8193the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.יֹסִ֥יףyosifaddיָסַףverb, hiphil, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “add”, an unfinished actionH3254to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)add, [idiom] again, [idiom] any more, [idiom] cease, [idiom] come more, [phrase] conceive again, continue, exceed, [idiom] further, [idiom] gather together, get more, give more-over, [idiom] henceforth, increase (more and more), join, [idi…לֶֽקַחleqachdoctrineלֶקַחnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “doctrine”, the ordinary formH3948properly, something received, i.e. (mentally) instruction (whether on the part of the teacher or hearer); also (in an active and sinister sense) inveiglementdoctrine, learning, fair speech.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

The wise in heart is called a man of discernment; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Young’s Literal Translation

To the wise in heart is called, 'Intelligent,' And sweetness of lips increaseth learning.

World English Bible

The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.

Darby Translation

The wise in heart is called intelligent, and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Douay-Rheims

The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

The wise in heart is called a man of discernment; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Men call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Τοὺς σοφοὺς καὶ συνετοὺς φαύλους καλοῦσιν, οἱ δὲ γλυκεῖς ἐν λόγῳ πλείονα ἀκούσονται.