Proverbs 18:20

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.

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.

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. Proverbs 18:20

With Proverbs 18:19 , the series of proverbs which began with that of the flatterer closes. The catchword אח, which occurred at its commencement, 9b, is repeated at its close, and serves also as a landmark of the group following Proverbs 18:20-24 . The proverb of the breach of friendship and of contentions is followed by one of the reaction of the use of the tongue on the man himself. Proverbs 18:20 20 Of the fruit which a man's mouth bringeth is his heart satisfied; By the revenue of his lips is he filled. He will taste in rich measure of the consequences not merely of the good (Proverbs 12:14, cf. Proverbs 13:2), but of whatever he has spoken. This is an oxymoron like Matthew 15:11, that not that which goeth into the mouth, but that which cometh out of it, defileth a man. As at John 4:34 the conduct of a man, so here his words are called his βρῶμα. Not merely the conduct (Proverbs 1:31; Isaiah 3:10), but also the words are fruit-bringing; and not only do others taste of the fruit of the words as of the actions of a man, whether they be good or bad, but above all he himself does so, both in this life and in that which is to come.

Verse 19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city - Almost all the versions agree in the following reading: "A brother assisted by a brother, is like a fortified city; and their decisions are like the bars of a city." Coverdale is both plain and terse: "The unitie of brethren is stronger then a castell, and they that holde together are like the barre of a palace." The fable of the dying father, his sons, and the bundle of faggots, illustrates this proverb. Unity among brethren makes them invincible; small things grow great by concord. If we take the words according to the common version, we see them express what, alas! we know to be too generally true: that when brothers fall out, it is with extreme difficulty that they can be reconciled. And fraternal enmities are generally strong and inveterate. PROVERBS 18: 20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied. Verse 20 With the fruit of his mouth - Our own words frequently shape our good or evil fortune in life. PROVERBS 18: 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit. Verse 21 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. PROVERBS 18: 22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.

stay him —sustain or deliver him. 18. (Compare Proverbs 10:9; 17:20). Double dealing is eventually fatal. 19. (Compare Proverbs 10:4; 20:4). vain persons —idle, useless drones, implying that they are also wicked (Proverbs 12:11; Psalms 26:4). 20. maketh haste … rich —implying deceit or fraud (Proverbs 20:21), and so opposed to "faithful" or reliable. 21. respect of persons —(Proverbs 24:23). Such are led to evil by the slightest motive. 22. (Compare Proverbs 28:20). evil eye —in the general sense of Proverbs 23:6, here more specific for covetousness (compare Proverbs 22:9; Matthew 20:15). poverty … him —by God's providence. 23. (Compare Proverbs 9:8, 9; 27:5). Those benefited by reproof will love their monitors. 24. (Compare Matthew 15:4-6). Such, though heirs, are virtually thieves, to be ranked with highwaymen. 25. of a proud heart —literally, "puffed up of soul"—that is, self-confident, and hence overbearing and litigious. made fat —or, "prosperous" (Proverbs 11:25; 16:20). 26. (Compare Proverbs 3:6-8). walketh wisely —that is, trusting in God (Proverbs 22:17-19). 27. (Compare Proverbs 11:24-26). hideth his eyes —as the face (Psalms 27:9; 69:17), denotes inattention. 28. The elevation of the wicked to power drives men to seek refuge from tyranny (compare Proverbs 28:12; 11:10; Psalms 12:8). ## CHAPTER 29 Proverbs 29:1-27. 1. hardeneth … neck —obstinately refuses counsel (2 Kings 17:14; Nehemiah 9:16).