Proverbs 18:21
◄  Proverbs 18:21  ►
New International Version (©2011)
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

International Standard Version (©2012)
The power of the tongue is life and death— those who love to talk will eat what it produces.

NET Bible (©2006)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love its use will eat its fruit.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and he that loves it will eat from its fruit.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

American King James Version
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

American Standard Version
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.

Darby Bible Translation
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

English Revised Version
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Webster's Bible Translation
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.

World English Bible
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.

Young's Literal Translation
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,.... Of witnesses, according to the testimony they bear; of judges, according to the sentence they pass; of teachers, according to the doctrine they preach; of all men, who, by their well or ill speaking, bring death or life to themselves and others. Some, by their tongues, by the too free use of them, or falsehood they utter, are the cause of death to themselves and others; and some, by their silence, or by their prudent speech and prevalent intercession, secure or obtain life for themselves and others; yea, judgment at the last day will proceed according to a man's words, "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned", Matthew 12:37; the tongue is the instrument either of a great deal of good, or of a great deal of evil;

continued...

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue;

continued...

Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Death and life are in the power of the tongue - This may apply to all men. Many have lost their lives by their tongue, and some have saved their lives by it: but it applies most forcibly to public pleaders; on many of their tongues hangs life or death.

Geneva Study Bible

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that {o} love it shall eat the fruit of it.

(o) By the using the tongue well or evil, comes the fruit of it either good or bad.

Wesley's Notes

18:21 Death and life - Are brought upon men by, the good or bad use of their tongues. Lovest - That love much talking.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

21. Death and life-or, the greatest evil and good.

that love it-that is, the tongue, or its use for good or evil.

Continued...

Proverbs 18:21 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


The Unfriendly Pursue Selfishness
…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. 22Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of the LORD. …

Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Proverbs 10:19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
Proverbs 12:13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk, and so the innocent escape trouble.
Proverbs 13:2 From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
Proverbs 13:3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
Proverbs 21:23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
Isaiah 3:10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
Hosea 10:13 But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors,