Proverbs 18:20
 Proverbs 18:20 
New International Version (©2011)
From the fruit of their mouth a person's stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.

English Standard Version (©2001)
From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be satisfied; He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

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

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips.

International Standard Version (©2012)
The positive words that a man speaks fill his stomach; he will be satisfied with what his lips produce.

NET Bible (©2006)
From the fruit of a person's mouth his stomach is satisfied, with the product of his lips is he satisfied.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
A man's belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth, and by the produce of his lips he will be satisfied.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
A person's speaking ability provides for his stomach. His talking provides him a living.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
A man's stomach shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

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

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.

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.

Darby Bible Translation
A man's belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he satisfied.

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.

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.

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.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

18:19. Great care must be taken to prevent quarrels among relations and those under obligations to each other. Wisdom and grace make it easy to forgive; but corruption makes it difficult. 20. The belly is here put for the heart, as elsewhere; and what that is filled with, our satisfaction will be accordingly, and our inward peace. 21. Many a one has caused his own death, or the death of others, by a false or injurious tongue. 22. A good wife is a great blessing to a man, and it is a token of Divine favour. 23. Poverty tells men they must not order or demand. And at the throne of God's grace we are all poor, and must use entreaties. 24. Christ Jesus never will forsake those who trust in and love him. May we be such friends to others, for our Master's sake. Having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto the end; and we are his friends if we do whatever he commands us, Joh 15:14.


Pulpit Commentary

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.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth,.... 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;

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.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. (Compare Pr 12:14; 13:2). Men's words are the fruit, or, increase of his lips, and when good, benefit them.

satisfied with—(Compare Pr 1:31; 14:14).


Proverbs 18:20 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Unfriendly Pursue Selfishness
19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. 20A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. …

Proverbs 12:14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.
Proverbs 14:14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs.
Proverbs 18:19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city; disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.