Proverbs 18:20

20 A person's belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth; with what his lips produce he will be filled.

Proverbs 18:20 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 18:20

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth,
&c.] With his own words and discourses, when they are prudent, pious, and savoury; when they are with grace, and minister it; they are satisfying to himself, to his own mind and conscience, and to his family; to all within his house, which is, as it were, his belly; but, if otherwise, it will not be profitable nor satisfying to either; and therefore, if a man would keep conscience easy, and be useful to others, he ought to take care what he says; see ( Proverbs 12:14 ) ( 13:2 ) ; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled;
the same thing as before, expressed in different words, alluding to the sowing, of seed in the earth, and the increase of it; as a man sows he reaps, and enjoys the fruits of his labour; according to what a man sows with his lips, such is his harvest he is afterwards a partaker of.

Proverbs 18:20 In-Context

18 Casting lots puts an end to strife and separates powerful disputants.
19 It is harder to win an offended brother than a strong city; their fights are like the bars of a fortress.
20 A person's belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth; with what his lips produce he will be filled.
21 The tongue has power over life and death; those who indulge it must eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a great good; he has won the favor of ADONAI.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.