Proverbs 10:19

When words abound, transgression is inevitable, ¹  but the one who restrains ²  his words ³  is wise.

Ps 39:1; Pr 17:27,28; Ec 5:3; Ec 10:13,14; Jas 1:19; Jas 3:2

¹ tn Heb “does not cease.” It is impossible to avoid sinning in an abundance of words – sooner or later one is bound to say something wrong.

² tn Or “holds his lips under control.” The verb חָשַׂךְ (khasakh) means “to withhold; to restrain; to hold in check” (BDB 362 s.v.). The related Arabic term is used in reference to placing a piece of wood in the mouth of a goat to prevent it from sucking (HALOT 359 s.v. חשׂךְ).

³ tn Heb “his lips” (so KJV, NAB, NASB); NIV “his tongue.” The term “lips” is a metonymy of cause for speech.