Proverbs 13:2
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From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the desire of the faithless is violence.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
2 From the fruit of the mouth of a man he himself enjoys good; But the delight of the godless is violence. 2a = Pro 12:14, where ישׂבּע for יאכל. A man with a fruit-bringing mouth, himself enjoys also the blessing of his fruit-producing speech; his food (cf. βρῶμα, Joh 4:34) is the good action in words, which in themselves are deeds, and are followed by deeds; this good action affords enjoyment not merely to others, but also to himself. Ewald and Bertheau attract יאכל to 2b; so also does Fleischer: "the violence which the בּגדים wish to do to others turns back upon themselves; they must eat it also, i.e., bear its evil consequences." The thought would then be like Pro 10:6 : os improborum obteget violentia, and "to eat violence" is parallel to "to drink (Pro 26:6) violence (injury)." But wherefore then the naming of the soul, of which elsewhere it is said that it hungers or satiates itself, but never simply (but cf. Luk 12:19) that it eats? On the contrary, נפשׁ means also appetitus, Pro 23:2, and particularly wicked desire, Psa 27:12; here, as Psa 35:25, the object of this desire (Psychol. p. 202). Regarding בגדים, vid., above, p. 85. There are such as do injury in a cunning deceitful manner to their neighbour to their own advantage. While the former (the righteous) distributes to his neighbour from the inner impulse without having such a result in view, yet according to God's direction he derives enjoyment himself therefrom: the desire of the latter goes to חמס, ἀδικία, and thus to the enjoyment of good unrighteously and violently seized.
Open source ↗Note, 1. If that which comes from within, out of the heart, be good, and from a good treasure, it will return with advantage. Inward comfort and satisfaction will be daily bread; nay, it will be a continual feast to those who delight in that communication which is to the use of edifying. 2. Violence done will recoil in the face of him that does it: The soul of the transgressors that harbours and plots mischief, and vents it by word and deed, shall eat violence; they shall have their belly full of it. Reward her as she has rewarded thee, Rev 18:6. Every man shall drink as he brews, eat as he speaks; for by our words we must be justified or condemned, Mat 12:37. As our fruit is, so will our food be, Rom 6:21, Rom 6:22.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
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By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him.
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
May no slanderer be established in the land; may calamity hunt down the man of violence.
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of animals will terrify you, because of your bloodshed against men and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Because you have plundered many nations, the remnant of the people will plunder you— because of your bloodshed against man and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.
For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours from His cup, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to the dregs.
For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.”