Proverbs 18:20
New International Version
From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.

New Living Translation
Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.

English Standard Version
From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

Berean Standard Bible
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

King James Bible
A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

New King James Version
A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

New American Standard Bible
With the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

NASB 1995
With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

NASB 1977
With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

Legacy Standard Bible
From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied; With the produce of his lips he will be satisfied.

Amplified Bible
A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.

Christian Standard Bible
From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips.

American Standard Version
A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

Contemporary English Version
Make your words good--you will be glad you did.

English Revised Version
A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A person's speaking ability provides for his stomach. His talking provides him a living.

Good News Translation
You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say.

International Standard Version
The positive words that a man speaks fill his stomach; he will be satisfied with what his lips produce.

Majority Standard Bible
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

NET Bible
From the fruit of a person's mouth his stomach is satisfied, with the product of his lips is he satisfied.

New Heart English Bible
A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

Webster's Bible Translation
A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

World English Bible
A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
From the fruit of a man’s mouth is his belly satisfied, "" [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.

Young's Literal Translation
From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, From the increase of his lips he is satisfied.

Smith's Literal Translation
From the fruit of a man's mouth his belly shall be filled; and he shall be filled with the increase of his lips.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Of the fruit of a man's mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
From the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be filled. And the harvest of his own lips shall satisfy him.

New American Bible
With the fruit of one’s mouth one’s belly is filled, with the produce of one’s lips one is sated.

New Revised Standard Version
From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is satisfied; the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruits of his mouth; and with the fruits of his lips shall he be filled.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A man's belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth, and by the produce of his lips he will be satisfied.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A man fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth; and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Selfishness of the Unfriendly
19An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle. 20From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. 21Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.…

Cross References
Matthew 12:36-37
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. / For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

James 3:5-6
In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things. Consider how small a spark sets a great forest ablaze. / The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Proverbs 12:14
By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him.

Proverbs 13:2
From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.

Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

Luke 6:45
The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

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.

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Proverbs 15:23
A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

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 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.


Treasury of Scripture

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

Proverbs 12:13,14
The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble…

Proverbs 13:2
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

Proverbs 22:18,21
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips…

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Proverbs 18
1. A fool delights not in understanding














From the fruit of his mouth
The phrase "fruit of his mouth" suggests that our words are like seeds that bear fruit. In Hebrew, the word for "fruit" is "peri," which implies produce or outcome. This metaphor indicates that what we speak can lead to tangible results in our lives. In a historical context, fruit was a symbol of prosperity and blessing in ancient Israel. Thus, the words we speak can lead to spiritual and emotional nourishment, much like how fruit provides physical sustenance.

a man's belly is filled
The "belly" in Hebrew is "beten," often used metaphorically to represent the innermost part of a person, including desires and needs. This suggests that our words have the power to satisfy our deepest needs and desires. In a scriptural context, this aligns with the idea that wise and righteous speech can lead to personal fulfillment and contentment, as seen throughout the wisdom literature of the Bible.

with the harvest from his lips
The term "harvest" in Hebrew is "tevuah," which refers to the yield or produce of the land. This implies that our words can produce a "harvest," or a return, much like the agricultural cycles familiar to the original audience. The imagery of a harvest suggests abundance and reward, indicating that careful and wise speech can lead to a bountiful return in relationships and personal well-being.

he is satisfied
The word "satisfied" in Hebrew is "sava," meaning to be filled or to have enough. This denotes a state of contentment and fulfillment. In the biblical context, satisfaction is often linked to God's provision and blessing. Thus, this phrase suggests that when our speech is wise and aligned with God's principles, it leads to a deep sense of satisfaction and peace, reflecting the divine order and blessing in our lives.

(20) A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth.--See above on Proverbs 12:14.

Verse 20. - With the first clause, comp, Proverbs 12:14, and with the second, Proverbs 13:2. A man's belly; i.e. himself, his mind and body, equivalent to shall he be filled, or satisfied, in the second clause. A man must accept the consequences of his words, good or evil. The next verse explains this.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
From the fruit
מִפְּרִ֣י (mip·pə·rî)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6529: Fruit

of his mouth
פִי־ (p̄î-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

a man’s
אִ֭ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

belly
בִּטְנ֑וֹ (biṭ·nōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 990: The belly, the womb, the bosom, body of anything

is filled;
תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע (tiś·ba‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited

with the harvest
תְּבוּאַ֖ת (tə·ḇū·’aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8393: Product, revenue

from his lips
שְׂפָתָ֣יו (śə·p̄ā·ṯāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

he is satisfied.
יִשְׂבָּֽע׃ (yiś·bā‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7646: To be sated, satisfied or surfeited


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 18:20 A man's stomach is filled (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 18:19
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