Proverbs 12:14

14 By the fruit of his own mouth shall a man be filled with good things, and according to the works of his hands it shall be repaid him.

Proverbs 12:14 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 12:14

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of [his]
mouth
The wholesome advice, the good instruction, and sound doctrine he delivers to others, which are the fruit of his lips, and come forth by them from his heart; these redound to his own advantage, are not only a satisfaction to his mind upon reflection, but because of these he is filled with good things, even to satiety, both in this life and that to come; see ( 1 Timothy 4:6 ) ; or a "man shall be satisfied with good from the fruit of the mouth"; or "be satisfied from the fruit of the mouth of a man" F26; that is, of another man; either of a private man, by his prayers, by the account he gives of his own experience, by the conversation he has with him about the truths of the Gospel; or of a faithful minister of the word, who is the means of feeding the souls of men with good things, even to satisfaction, with the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ, with the sincere milk of the word, with the bread of life, even with the finest of the wheat; and the recompence of a man's hand shall be rendered unto him;
if his words turn to his account, much more his works; if he is filled with good things for the sake of the one, much more will he be recompensed in a way of grace on account of the other; and not for the one without the other, nor for words without works: or "the recompence of a man's hands", or of his works which his hands do, "he shall render to him" {a}; that is, God, who renders to every man according to his works; which serves not to establish the doctrine of merit, but to show the goodness and grace of God in taking notice of and accepting the imperfect works of men through Christ, and for his sake.


FOOTNOTES:

F26 (vya yp yrpm) "de fructu oris viri", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Schultens.
F1 (wl bwvy) "reddet ei", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis; "restituet ei", Munster, so Aben Ezra; "ei refundet", Schultens.

Proverbs 12:14 In-Context

12 He that is delighted in passing his time over wine, leaveth a reproach in his strong holds. The desire of the wicked is the fortification of evil men: but the root of the just shall prosper.
13 For the sins of the lips ruin draweth nigh to the evil man: but the just shall escape out of distress.
14 By the fruit of his own mouth shall a man be filled with good things, and according to the works of his hands it shall be repaid him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsels.
16 A fool immediately sheweth his anger: but he that dissembleth injuries is wise.
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