Proverbs 18:20–24

20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;

with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds what is good

and receives favor from the Lord.

23 The poor plead for mercy,

but the rich answer harshly.

24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;

he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

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

and those who love it will eat its fruits.

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing

and obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor use entreaties,

but the rich answer roughly.

24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

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.

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

And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,

And obtaineth favour of the Lord.

23 The poor useth intreaties;

But the rich answereth roughly.

24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:

And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;

From the produce of his lips he shall be filled.

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

And those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing,

And obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor man uses entreaties,

But the rich answers roughly.

24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

20 People will be rewarded for what they say;

they will be rewarded by how they speak.

21 What you say can mean life or death.

Those who speak with care will be rewarded.

22 When a man finds a wife, he finds something good.

It shows that the Lord is pleased with him.

23 The poor beg for mercy,

but the rich give rude answers.

24 Some friends may ruin you,

but a real friend will be more loyal than a brother.

20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth;

With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

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

And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing,

And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

23 The poor useth entreaties;

But the rich answereth roughly.

24 He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction;

But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

20 A man’s belly is satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; with the increase of his lips is he satisfied.

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

22 Whoso hath found a wife hath found a good thing, and hath obtained favour from Jehovah.

23 He that is poor speaketh with supplications, but the rich answereth roughly.

24 A man of many friends will come to ruin but there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

20 A person’s speaking ability provides for his stomach. 

His talking provides him a living. 

21 The tongue has the power of life and death, 

and those who love to talk will have to eat their own words. 

22 Whoever finds a wife finds something good 

and has obtained favor from the Lord. 

23 A poor person is timid when begging, 

but a rich person is blunt when replying. 

24 Friends can destroy one another,

but a loving friend can stick closer than family. 

20 From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is satisfied;

he is filled with the product of his lips.

21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 A man who finds a wife finds a good thing

and obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor man pleads,

but the rich one answers roughly.

24 A man with many friends may be harmed,

but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

20 From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is satisfied;

the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.

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

and those who love it will eat its fruits.

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing

and obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor use entreaties,

but the rich answer roughly.

24 Some friends play at friendship,

but a true friend sticks closer than one’s sibling.

20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth, his stomach will be satisfied,

as for the yield of his lips, it will satisfy.

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

and those who love her will eat of her fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds good,

and he will obtain favor from Yahweh.

23 The poor may speak entreaties,

but the rich will answer roughly.

24 A man of many friends will come to ruin,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

20 A man can fill his stomach with what he says.

The words from his lips can satisfy him.

21 Your tongue has the power of life and death.

Those who love to talk will eat the fruit of their words.

22 The one who finds a wife finds what is good.

He receives favor from the Lord.

23 Poor people beg for mercy.

But rich people answer in a mean way.

24 Even a man who has many companions can be destroyed.

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

20 With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;

He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

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

And those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing

And obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor man utters supplications,

But the rich man answers roughly.

24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.