PROV 18:20 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 10:1–22:16: This is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs. It has a very different structure from the longer poetic lectures of chapters 1–9. It consists mostly of individual couplets (two-line poems) that are each one verse in length. With the exception of the title (10:1a), paragraph breaks will not be indicated in the Notes or Display. You may of course choose to start each proverb as a separate paragraph in your translation.

In chapters 10–15, most of these one-verse couplets express a contrast between the two lines. One of the more common contrasts is between the righteous/wise and the wicked/foolish and the different consequences of their conduct.

In chapters 16:1–22:16, more topics are discussed. There is more emphasis on the role of the king and other leaders. In these chapters, there are few proverbs with contrasting lines. Some of the parallel lines are similar in meaning. More frequently, the second line adds to what the first line says or gives an example. Most of the verses have no obvious connection with the previous or following proverbs.UBS (page 214), Fox (page 509), McKane (page 413). Many scholars, including McKane, point out that there are some topical groupings as well as poetic connections. These include the repetition of certain words or sounds. This observation does not deny the individual nature of most of the proverbs in this Section.

Two of the types of proverbs in this section are not found in chapters 1–9. One type contains logical reasoning from the lesser to the greater. See 11:31 for a list of these proverbs. There are also several varieties of complex “better than” proverbs. The most common have a contrasting situation in each line (see 12:9). For other varieties, see 16:16, 19:1, and 21:9.

Many of the proverbs in this section refer to categories of people who share a common trait. For example, they refer to the righteous, the wise, the poor, and the lazy. In Hebrew, some verses use singular forms to refer to these groups of people. Other verses use plural forms. Still others use a combination of singular and plural. See the note on 10:30a–b for one example. For most of these verses, the Notes will not comment on the difference between singular and plural forms. Use a natural way in your language to refer to one or more people who are in the same category.

Many of the proverbs in this section express a general principle in abstract terms. They are not addressed specifically to the readers. For example, 10:2a–b says:

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,

but righteousness delivers from death.

However, the author intended his readers to understand these proverbs as advice that they should follow. In some languages, authors or speakers give advice more directly, using pronouns such as you^(sing), you^(plur), we^(dual), or we^(incl). See the note on 10:2 for translation suggestions.

Some other headings for this section are:

Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

The Wise Words of Solomon (NCV)

Here are many wise things that Solomon said

18:20

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

^20a From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled;

^20b with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

Both lines have complex figures of speech: “fruit of his mouth” and “harvest from his lips.” These figures of speech represent the consequences of a person’s words. These consequences could be good or bad, depending on what a person says. But in this context, they probably refer to good consequences.The GNT connects this verse closely with the positive and negative consequences of 18:21. Its translation (“You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say.”) has negative connotations for many English speakers, but probably includes both good and bad consequences. Most versions imply good consequences.

See the notes on 12:14a and 13:2a. The identical phrase “fruit of his mouth” occurs in both these verses. Both verses also refer to the benefits that a person receives from the good things that he says. In addition, the concept of being satisfied usually has a good connotation.

18:20a–b

(combined/reordered)

If your^(sing) words to other people are wise and helpful, your life will be filled with benefits/blessings.

fruit…harvest: In this context, the words fruit and harvest are both figures of speech (metonymy). They represent good consequences or results. In some languages, it may be possible to keep at least one of these figures of speech. In other languages, it will be clearer to use words such as “benefits” or “rewards.” These words express the meaning directly.

a man’s belly is filled…he is satisfied: The word that the BSB and most versions translate as belly can refer literally to a person’s stomach. They can also refer figuratively to a person’s inner being. The parallel words filled and satisfied are the same word in Hebrew. Depending on the context, this word can also be understood literally or figuratively.

There are two reasons why a figurative meaning is probably intended here:

The other parallel parts in this verse have figurative meanings.
The similar phrase “eat its fruit” in 18:21 clearly has a figurative meaning.Versions such as the NIV, NRSV, NJB, ESV, and NET translate the first of these parallel phrases using the word “stomach.” This may indicate that these versions interpret “stomach” literally. But it is also possible that their renderings may be an attempt to preserve the figurative connection with the words “fruit” and “harvest.” The REB and GW understand the phrase “a man’s stomach is filled” to refer to his livelihood. For example, the GW has: “A person’s speaking ability provides for his stomach. His talking provides him a living.” Longman acknowledges that this literal interpretation is possible, but he prefers the figurative interpretation, as do the ten other scholars who spoke to this issue. In light of the meaning of other similar verses such as 12:14a and 13:2a, the Notes have followed the more general idea of helpful words producing good results.

Some ways to translate these parallel lines are:

Use one or more figures of speech. For example:
^20aWise words satisfy like a good meal; ^20bthe right words bring satisfaction. (NLT)
Translate the meaning without using a figure of speech. For example:
^20aPeople will be rewarded for what they say; ^20bthey will be rewarded by how they speak. (NCV)

18:20a

From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled;

The helpful things that a person says will fill his life with many benefits.
A person will receive many rewards/benefits from the wise words that he speaks to others.

18:20b

with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

What he harvests from his words will indeed satisfy him completely.
He will be truly satisfied with the results of what he says.

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / parallelism

מִ⁠פְּרִ֣י פִי־אִ֭ישׁ תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע בִּטְנ֑⁠וֹ תְּבוּאַ֖ת שְׂפָתָ֣י⁠ו יִשְׂבָּֽע

from_the=fruit mouth_of (a)_man satisfied belly_of,his yield_of his_lips_of,his satisfied

These two clauses mean basically the same thing. The second clause emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could connect the clauses with a word that shows that the second clause is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: “From the fruit of the mouth of a man his belly is satisfied; yes, with the produce of his lips, he is satisfied”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

מִ⁠פְּרִ֣י פִי־אִ֭ישׁ תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע בִּטְנ֑⁠וֹ

from_the=fruit mouth_of (a)_man satisfied belly_of,his

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “The fruit of the mouth of a man satisfies his belly”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

מִ⁠פְּרִ֣י פִי־אִ֭ישׁ

from_the=fruit mouth_of (a)_man

See how you translated this phrase in [12:14](../12/14.md).

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / personification

תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע בִּטְנ֑⁠וֹ

satisfied belly_of,his

Here Solomon speaks of a person eating enough food to feel satisfied as if that person’s belly were a person who could be satisfied. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “will eat enough to feel satisfied”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

תְּבוּאַ֖ת שְׂפָתָ֣י⁠ו יִשְׂבָּֽע

yield_of his_lips_of,his satisfied

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the produce of his lips satisfies him”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

תְּבוּאַ֖ת שְׂפָתָ֣י⁠ו

yield_of his_lips_of,his

Here Solomon refers to what a person says as if it were produce from that person’s lips. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “with what he says”

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.