Proverbs 18:21

What you say can cause others to be killed or it can cause them to continue to live; so those who like to talk a lot must ◄accept the consequences/realize that what they say can cause much harm►.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

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

In Context

20People are happy when they hear others say [MTY] something that is good, like they are happy when they eat food that is good [MET].

22If you marry a good woman, that is like finding a wonderful thing; it shows that Yahweh is pleased with you.

Read all of Proverbs 18

Cross References

Psalms 12:5But Yahweh replies, “I have seen the violent things that they have done to helpless people; and I have heard those people groaning, so I will arise and rescue the people who are wanting me to help them.”

Proverbs 10:31Righteous people [MTY] say things that are wise, but God will shut the mouths of people [MTY] who say what is not true.

Proverbs 12:13Evil people are trapped by the evil things that they say [MTY], but righteous people escape from trouble.

Proverbs 18:4What wise people say is like a deep ocean that you can never get to the bottom of [MET], and it refreshes us like water from a rapidly flowing stream.

Isaiah 57:19I will enable them to sing songs to praise me. I will restore all my people, those who live near Jerusalem and those who live far away, and I will cause things to go well for them.

Romans 10:14In regard to the people of Israel rejecting the gospel, some people might object by saying, (OR, This raises another problem about the Jews:) “◄They certainly cannot ask Christ to save them if they have not first believed in him!/How can they ask Christ to help/save them if they have not first believed in him?► [RHQ] And ◄they certainly cannot believe in him if they have not heard about him!/how can they believe in him if they have not heard about him?► [RHQ] And ◄they certainly cannot hear about him if someone does not preach to them about him!/how can they hear about him if someone does not preach to them about him?► [RHQ]

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 18:21

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. Note, 1. Our comfort depends very much upon the testimony of our own consciences, for us or against us. The belly is here put for the conscience, as ch. xx. 27 . Now it is of great consequence to us whether that be satisfied, and what that is filled with, for, accordingly, will our satisfaction be and our inward peace. 2. The testimony of our consciences will be for us, or against us, according as… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Proverbs 18:21