Proverbs 13:2
New International Version
From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.

New Living Translation
Wise words will win you a good meal, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

English Standard Version
From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

Berean Standard Bible
From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.

King James Bible
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

New King James Version
A man shall eat well by the fruit of his mouth, But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.

New American Standard Bible
From the fruit of a person’s mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

NASB 1995
From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

NASB 1977
From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

Legacy Standard Bible
From the fruit of a man’s mouth he eats what is good, But the soul of the treacherous desires violence.

Amplified Bible
From the fruit of his mouth a [wise] man enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

Christian Standard Bible
From the fruit of his mouth, a person will enjoy good things, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
From the words of his mouth, a man will enjoy good things, but treacherous people have an appetite for violence.

American Standard Version
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the treacherous shall eat violence.

Contemporary English Version
You will be well rewarded for saying something kind, but all some people think about is how to be cruel and mean.

English Revised Version
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the treacherous shall eat violence.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A person eats well as a result of his speaking ability, but the appetite of treacherous people [craves] violence.

Good News Translation
Good people will be rewarded for what they say, but those who are deceitful are hungry for violence.

International Standard Version
From the fruit of his words a man receives benefit, but the treacherous crave violence.

Majority Standard Bible
From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.

NET Bible
From the fruit of his speech a person eats good things, but the faithless desire the fruit of violence.

New Heart English Bible
By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence.

Webster's Bible Translation
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

World English Bible
By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful crave violence.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A man eats good from the fruit of the mouth, "" And the soul of the treacherous—violence.

Young's Literal Translation
From the fruit of the mouth a man eateth good, And the soul of the treacherous -- violence.

Smith's Literal Translation
From the fruit of a man's mouth he shall eat good: and the soul of the transgressing, violence.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Of the fruit of his own mouth shall a man be filled with good things: but the soul of transgressors is wicked.

Catholic Public Domain Version
From the fruit of his own month, a man shall be satisfied with good things. But the soul of betrayers is iniquity.

New American Bible
From the fruit of the mouth one enjoys good things, but from the throat of the treacherous comes violence.

New Revised Standard Version
From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things, but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A good man shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; but the souls of the wicked shall perish.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A good man will be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth and the souls of the evil will be destroyed.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A man shall eat good from the fruit of his mouth; But the desire of the faithless is violence.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A good man shall eat of the fruits of righteousness: but the lives of transgressors shall perish before their time.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Father's Discipline
1A wise son heeds his father’s discipline, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke. 2From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence. 3He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.…

Cross References
Proverbs 12:14
By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him.

Proverbs 18:20-21
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. / Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Matthew 12:36-37
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. / For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

James 3:2-6
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to control his whole body. / When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can guide the whole animal. / Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined. ...

Proverbs 15:23
A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Proverbs 10:31
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

1 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

Proverbs 14:3
The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.


Treasury of Scripture

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

eat

Proverbs 12:14
A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

Proverbs 18:20
A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

the soul

Proverbs 1:11-13,18,31
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: …

Proverbs 4:17
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

Jump to Previous
Acts Crave Craving Desire Eat Eateth Eats Enjoys Faithless Fruit Good Lips Mouth Soul Transgressors Treacherous Unfaithful Violence Violent
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Acts Crave Craving Desire Eat Eateth Eats Enjoys Faithless Fruit Good Lips Mouth Soul Transgressors Treacherous Unfaithful Violence Violent
Proverbs 13
1. a scoffer does not listen to rebuke














From the fruit of his lips
This phrase emphasizes the power and consequence of spoken words. In Hebrew, the word for "fruit" (פְּרִי, peri) often symbolizes the results or outcomes of one's actions. Just as a tree is known by its fruit, a person is known by their words. The "lips" here represent speech, and the imagery suggests that just as fruit is a natural product of a tree, so are words a natural product of the heart and mind. In a conservative Christian perspective, this underscores the importance of speaking truth and life, as words have the power to build up or tear down, reflecting the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament about the abundance of the heart (Matthew 12:34).

a man enjoys good things
The Hebrew word for "enjoys" (יֹאכַל, yokal) can also mean "eats" or "consumes," suggesting that the speaker partakes in the benefits or consequences of their words. "Good things" (טוֹב, tov) in this context refers to blessings, prosperity, and well-being. This aligns with the biblical principle that righteous speech leads to positive outcomes. Historically, wisdom literature like Proverbs often contrasts the outcomes of the wise and the foolish, emphasizing that those who speak wisely and truthfully will experience God's favor and the natural rewards of their integrity.

but the desire of the faithless
The word "desire" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh) in Hebrew can also mean "soul" or "appetite," indicating a deep-seated longing or inclination. "Faithless" (בֹּגֵד, boged) refers to those who are treacherous or unfaithful, often used in the Old Testament to describe those who turn away from God's covenant. This phrase highlights the inner motivations of those who reject God's ways, contrasting them with the righteous. In a conservative Christian view, this serves as a warning against allowing one's desires to be shaped by anything other than God's truth, as the faithless are driven by selfishness and rebellion.

is violence
The Hebrew word for "violence" (חָמָס, chamas) implies not just physical harm but also injustice and oppression. This stark outcome of the faithless person's desires serves as a cautionary tale within the wisdom tradition. It suggests that when one's heart is not aligned with God's righteousness, the natural result is chaos and harm, both to oneself and to others. From a conservative Christian perspective, this underscores the biblical teaching that sin leads to destruction, and only through alignment with God's will can one find peace and true prosperity. This aligns with the broader scriptural narrative that calls believers to pursue peace and righteousness, reflecting the character of Christ in their lives.

(2) A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth.--See above on Proverbs 12:14.

Shall eat violence.--Comp. Proverbs 1:31; Proverbs 26:6.

Verse 2. - A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth (Proverbs 12:14; Proverbs 18:20). By his kindly speech and wise counsels he shall gain the good will of his neighbours and the blessing of God. Schultens observes that the word rendered "good" (tob) means what is pleasant to taste and smell, while that translated "violence" (chamas) signifies literally what is crude and unripe. The soul of the transgressors shall eat violence (Proverbs 1:31). The Authorized Version introduces the verb from the first clause unnecessarily. The meaning of this rendering is that sinners, especially the treacherous, bring on themselves retribution; the injuries which they devise against others recoil on their own heads (Proverbs 10:6). The Hebrew is, "The soul (i.e. the desire, or delight) of the perfidious (is) violence." Such men have only one thing at heart, viz. to wrong their neighbour, and to increase their own property by any, even nefarious, precedings. Septuagint, "Of the fruits of righteousness the good man shall eat; but the lives of transgressors shall perish untimely."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
From the fruit
מִפְּרִ֣י (mip·pə·rî)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6529: Fruit

of his lips
פִי־ (p̄î-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

a man
אִ֭ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

will enjoy
יֹ֣אכַל (yō·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

good things,
ט֑וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

but the desire
וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ (wə·ne·p̄eš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

of the faithless
בֹּגְדִ֣ים (bō·ḡə·ḏîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 898: To cover, to act covertly, to pillage

is violence.
חָמָֽס׃ (ḥā·mās)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2555: Violence, wrong, by meton, unjust gain


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 13:2 By the fruit of his lips (Prov. Pro Pr)
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