A person will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, And the deeds of a person’s hands will return to him.
Parallel translations
- WEB A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth. The work of a man’s hands shall be rewarded to him.
- KJV A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
- BSB By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things, and the work of his hands returns to him.
- NKJV A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.
- NLT Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A person is satisfied with good by his words, and rewarded for the work of his hands. Both our speech and our labor bring fitting returns.
Overview
The proverb teaches that wholesome words and diligent work both yield good fruit that returns to the doer. It affirms the meaningful connection between what we say and do and what we receive. This reflects God's just ordering of life and encourages faithfulness in both speech and deed.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 18:20–21A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
- Isa 3:10–11Tell the righteous “Good!” For they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
- Prov 13:2By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; but the unfaithful crave violence.
- Ps 63:5My soul shall be satisfied as with the richest food. My mouth shall praise you with joyful lips,
- Prov 15:23Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time!
- Matt 10:41–42He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
- 2 Th 1:6–7Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you,
- Matt 16:27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.
- Heb 11:26accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
- Heb 2:2For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense;
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 12:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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