Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look. New Living Translation As surely as a north wind brings rain, so a gossiping tongue causes anger! English Standard Version The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. Berean Standard Bible As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks. King James Bible The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. New King James Version The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. New American Standard Bible The north wind brings rain, And a gossiping tongue brings an angry face. NASB 1995 The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance. NASB 1977 The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance. Legacy Standard Bible The north wind brings forth rain, And a tongue of secrets, an indignant face. Amplified Bible The north wind brings forth rain; And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance. Christian Standard Bible The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. Holman Christian Standard Bible The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. American Standard Version The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. Contemporary English Version As surely as rain blows in from the north, anger is caused by cruel words. English Revised Version The north wind bringeth forth rain: so doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. GOD'S WORD® Translation [As] the north wind brings rain, so a whispering tongue brings angry looks. Good News Translation Gossip brings anger just as surely as the north wind brings rain. International Standard Version The north wind brings rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry look. Majority Standard Bible As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks. NET Bible The north wind brings forth rain, and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look. New Heart English Bible The north wind brings forth rain: so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face. Webster's Bible Translation The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. World English Bible The north wind produces rain; so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionA north wind brings forth rain, "" And a secret tongue—indignant faces. Young's Literal Translation A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue -- indignant faces. Smith's Literal Translation The north wind will set free the rain, and an angry face, a hidden tongue. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe north wind driveth away rain, as doth a sad countenance a backbiting tongue. Catholic Public Domain Version The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue. New American Bible The north wind brings rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. New Revised Standard Version The north wind produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleLike the north wind which brings forth rain, so are an evil countenance and a backbiting tongue. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated As the North wind gives birth to rain, so also is an evil face to a lurking tongue. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917The north wind bringeth forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. Brenton Septuagint Translation The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context More Proverbs of Solomon…22For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. 23As the north wind brings forth rain, so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks. 24Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.… Cross References James 3:10-12 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! / Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? / My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen. Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you. 1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people. Luke 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 1 Corinthians 4:12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; Psalm 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure. Psalm 15:3 who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend, Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Psalm 140:11 May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence. Isaiah 29:20-21 For the ruthless will vanish, the mockers will disappear, and all who look for evil will be cut down— / those who indict a man with a word, who ensnare the mediator at the gate, and who with false charges deprive the innocent of justice. Treasury of Scripture The north wind drives away rain: so does an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. north Job 37:22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. Psalm 15:3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. Psalm 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Jump to Previous Angry Backbiting Birth Caused Countenance Driveth Evil Face Faces Forth Gives Indignant Looks North Rain Secret Secretly Sly Tongue WindJump to Next Angry Backbiting Birth Caused Countenance Driveth Evil Face Faces Forth Gives Indignant Looks North Rain Secret Secretly Sly Tongue WindProverbs 25 1. observations about kings8. and about avoiding causes of quarrels As the north wind brings forth rain In the ancient Near East, weather patterns were well understood by the people, and the north wind was often associated with bringing rain. This reflects the agrarian society's dependence on weather for agriculture. The north wind, in particular, was known to bring cooler, moisture-laden air, which would result in rain. This imagery is used to convey the inevitability of certain outcomes, much like the predictable nature of weather patterns. In biblical literature, weather is often used metaphorically to describe divine intervention or judgment, as seen in Job 37:9-13, where God uses the weather to demonstrate His power and wisdom. so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks Persons / Places / Events 1. North WindIn the context of the ancient Near East, the north wind was often associated with bringing rain and storms. It is a natural phenomenon that is used metaphorically in this proverb. 2. Backbiting Tongue This refers to a person who speaks maliciously or slanders others behind their backs. It is a metaphor for harmful and deceitful speech. 3. Angry Looks The reaction or consequence of backbiting, representing the discord and anger that such speech can provoke in others. Teaching Points The Power of WordsWords have the power to build up or tear down. Just as the north wind inevitably brings rain, a backbiting tongue will inevitably lead to conflict and anger. Guarding Our Speech Believers are called to guard their tongues and avoid speaking ill of others. This requires self-control and a heart aligned with Christ's teachings. Consequences of Slander Slander and gossip not only harm the person being spoken about but also damage the speaker's reputation and relationships. It leads to distrust and division. Promoting Peace Instead of engaging in backbiting, Christians should strive to be peacemakers, using their words to encourage and uplift others. Reflecting Christ in Our Speech Our speech should reflect the love and truth of Christ. By speaking with integrity and kindness, we bear witness to our faith.(23) The north wind driveth away rain.--The marginal rendering is probably more correct: "The north wind bringeth forth rain;" but as this seems to be opposed to Job 37:22, it has been thought that the north-west, which is a rainy wind, must be intended here. So doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.--Rather, So doth a backbiting tongue (bring forth, or cause) troubled faces. Verse 23. - The north wind driveth away rain. So St. Jerome (Ventus Aquilo dissipat pluvias), Symmachus, Aben Ezra, and others. The north wind is called by the natives of Palestine "the heavenly," from the bright effect which it produces in the sky. "By means of the north wind cometh he (the sun) forth as gold" (Job 37:22). But the verb here used (חול) means "to bring forth, produce" (Psalm 90:2); hence the Revised Version rightly renders, "The north wind bringeth forth rain." This is quite true if "north wind" be taken as equivalent to "wind from the dark quarter" (Umbreit), like ζόφος in Greek; and, in fact, the northwest wind in Palestine does bring rain. Septuagint, "The north wind arouseth (ἐξεγείρει) clouds." So doth an angry countenance a backbiting, tongue. Carrying on the interpretation intended by the Authorized Version, this clause means that an angry leer will check a slanderer and incline him to hold his peace from prudential motives. But with the rendering given above, "bringeth forth," another explanation is involved, viz. "So does a secret, slandering tongue cause a troubled countenance." When a man discovers that a secret slanderer is working against him, he shows it by his gloomy and angry look, as the sky is dark with clouds when a storm is threatened. "Countenance" is plural in the Hebrew, denoting, as Hitzig points out, that the calumniator does not affect one person only, but occasions trouble far and wide, destroys friendly relations between many, excites suspicion and enmity in various quarters Septuagint, "An impudent countenance provokes the tongue."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew As the northצָ֭פוֹן (ṣā·p̄ō·wn) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6828: Hidden, dark, the north as a, quarter wind ר֣וּחַ (rū·aḥ) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit brings forth תְּח֣וֹלֵֽל (tə·ḥō·w·lêl) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 2342: To twist, whirl, to dance, to writhe in pain, fear, to wait, to pervert rain, גָּ֑שֶׁם (gā·šem) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1653: Rain, shower so a backbiting סָֽתֶר׃ (sā·ṯer) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5643: A covering, hiding place, secrecy tongue לְשׁ֣וֹן (lə·šō·wn) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 3956: The tongue [brings] angry נִ֝זְעָמִ֗ים (niz·‘ā·mîm) Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 2194: To foam at the mouth, to be enraged looks. וּפָנִ֥ים (ū·p̄ā·nîm) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6440: The face Links Proverbs 25:23 NIVProverbs 25:23 NLT Proverbs 25:23 ESV Proverbs 25:23 NASB Proverbs 25:23 KJV Proverbs 25:23 BibleApps.com Proverbs 25:23 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 25:23 Chinese Bible Proverbs 25:23 French Bible Proverbs 25:23 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 25:23 The north wind brings forth rain: so (Prov. 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