Proverbs 22 · Verse 18

Proverbs 22:18

For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
Proverbs 22:18, King James Version

Proverbs 22:18 in other translations

BSBfor it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.
WEBFor it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.
ASVFor it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.
YLTFor they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
DARBYFor it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee: they shall be together fitted on thy lips.
BBEFor it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips.
WebsterFor it is a pleasant thing if thou keepest them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

What does Proverbs 22:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. These lessons must be laid up in the mind, and fitted--or better, "fixed" in the lips so as to be ever ready.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee - II. The pleasure and profit which may be derived from an attentive hearing. 1. They should be laid up in the heart-stored, treasured up within thee. 2. This will yield high satisfaction and happiness to the soul: "For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee." 3. The man who thus attends to the teachings of wisdom shall gain an experimental knowledge of them, so as to be able to speak of them suitably, pertinently and persuasively. "They shall withal be fitted in thy lips."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 22:17-21

To these words, to this knowledge, the ear must be bowed down, and the heart applied by faith and love. To live a life of delight in God and dependence on him, is the foundation of all practical religion. The way to know the certainty of the word of truth, is to make conscience of our duty.

Read the full comment on Proverbs 22:17-21 →

Proverbs 22:18 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
נָ֭עִיםNa.'im[will be] pleasantH5273
כִּֽי\־ki-thatH3588
תִשְׁמְרֵ֣םtish.me.Remyou will keep themH8104
בְּבִטְנֶ֑ךָbe.vit.Ne.khain belly yourH990
יִכֹּ֥נוּyi.Ko.nuthey will be preparedH3559
יַ֝חְדָּ֗וyach.DavtogetherH3162
עַל\־'al-onH5921
שְׂפָתֶֽיךָ\׃se.fa.Tei.khalips yourH8193

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 22:18

  • Jeremiah 15:16

    Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.

  • Proverbs 2:10

    When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

  • Proverbs 8:6

    Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

  • Psalms 119:103

    How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

  • Proverbs 15:7

    The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

  • Proverbs 10:21

    The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

  • John 7:38

    He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

  • Proverbs 10:13

    In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

  • Proverbs 24:13-14

    My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

  • Hebrews 13:15

    By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

  • Psalms 119:111

    Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

  • Psalms 19:10

    More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
it is.
2:10; 3:17; 24:13,14; Ps 19:10; 119:103,111,162; Jer 15:16
within thee. Heb. within thy belly.
Job 32:18,19; Joh 7:38
fitted.
8:6; 10:13,21; 15:7; 16:21; 25:11; Ps 119:13,171; Mal 2:7; Heb 13:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 22:17

    Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

  • Proverbs 22:18

    For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.

  • Proverbs 22:19

    That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.

Read all of Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque es cosa deleitable, si las guardares en tus entrañas; y que juntamente sean ordenadas en tus labios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car c’est une chose agréable si tu les gardes au-dedans de toi: elles seront disposées ensemble sur tes lèvres.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn lieblich ist es, wenn du sie in deinem Innern bewahrst; möchten sie allzumal auf deinen Lippen Bestand haben!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		quæ pulchra erit tibi cum servaveris eam in ventre tuo, et redundabit in labiis tuis: