Proverbes 22:18

18 Car il est bon que tu les gardes au-dedans de toi, et qu'elles restent présentes sur tes lèvres.

Proverbes 22:18 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 22:18

For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee,
&c.] Or, "in thy belly" F1. That is, in thine heart, in the inmost recesses of it; where the words or doctrines of the wise should be received in the love of them, and carefully laid up and retained; which will upon reflection yield much pleasure, like Ezekiel's roll, which was in his belly as honey for sweetness; and which also is very profitable as an antidote against sin, ( Psalms 119:11 ) ; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips;
become them, and be suitable and graceful to them: or, "shall be ordered [and disposed] in" or "by thy lips" F2; being received into the heart, and digested there, they shall easily and freely go off the tongue, which shall be as the pen of a ready writer; they shall be delivered in a regular manner, with great liberty and facility; by a good digestion of Gospel truths, and a comfortable experience of them, persons become apt to teach others.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 (Knjbb) "in ventre tuo", V. L. Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis, Schultens.
F2 (wnwk) "disponantur", Vatablus.

Proverbes 22:18 In-Context

16 Celui qui fait tort au pauvre pour s'enrichir, donne au riche, pour n'aboutir qu'à l'indigence.
17 Prête ton oreille, et écoute les paroles des sages; applique ton cœur à ma science.
18 Car il est bon que tu les gardes au-dedans de toi, et qu'elles restent présentes sur tes lèvres.
19 Je te le fais entendre aujourd'hui à toi-même, afin que ta confiance soit en l'Éternel.
20 N'ai-je pas déjà écrit pour toi sur le conseil et sur la science,
The Ostervald translation is in the public domain.