Proverbs 13:2 King James Version (KJV)

2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.


Proverbs 13:2 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

2 A man H376 shall eat H398 good H2896 by the fruit H6529 of his mouth: H6310 but the soul H5315 of the transgressors H898 shall eat violence. H2555


Proverbs 13:2 American Standard (ASV)

2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the treacherous `shall eat' violence.


Proverbs 13:2 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

2 From the fruit of the mouth a man eateth good, And the soul of the treacherous -- violence.


Proverbs 13:2 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; but the soul of the treacherous, violence.


Proverbs 13:2 World English Bible (WEB)

2 By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; But the unfaithful crave violence.


Proverbs 13:2 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

2 A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts.

Cross Reference

Proverbs 1:11-13 KJV

If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

Jeremiah 25:27-31 KJV

Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink. For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

Commentary on Proverbs 13 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 13

Pr 13:1-25.

1. (Compare Pr 6:1-5; 10:1, 17).

2. shall eat—that is, obtain (Pr 12:14).

transgressors—as in Pr 2:22.

violence—or, "mischief" to themselves.

3. He … mouth … life—because evil speeches may provoke violence from others.

he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction—On last clause, compare Pr 10:14.

4. (Compare Pr 12:11, 27).

5. loathsome … shame—better, causeth shame and reproach (compare Pr 19:26), by slander, &c., which the righteous hates.

6. A sentiment of frequent recurrence, that piety benefits and sin injures.

7. In opposite ways men act hypocritically for gain of honor or wealth.

8. Riches save some from punishment, while others suffer because they will not heed the rebuke of sloth, which makes and keeps them poor.

9. light … lamp—prosperity; the first, the greater, and it

rejoiceth—burns brightly, or continues, while the other, at best small, soon fails.

10. The obstinacy which attends self-conceit, produces contention, which the well-advised, thus evincing modesty, avoid.

11. by vanity—or, "nothingness," that is, which is vain or useless to the public (as card playing or similar vices).

gathereth … labour—(Compare Margin), little by little, laboriously.

12. desire cometh—is realized.

a tree of life—or, "cause of happiness."

13. the word—that is, of advice, or, instruction (compare Pr 10:27; 11:31).

14. (Compare Pr 10:11).

fountain—or, "source of life."

to depart—(compare Pr 1:2-4), or, "for departing," &c., and so gives life.

15. Right perception and action secure good will, while evil ways are difficult as a stony road. The wicked left of God find punishment of sin in sinning.

hard—or, "harsh" (compare Hebrew: De 21:4; Jer 5:15).

16. dealeth—acts with foresight.

a fool … folly—for want of caution.

17. A wicked—or, "unfaithful"

messenger falleth into mischief—or, "by mischief," or "evil," and so his errand fails. Contrasted is the character of the faithful, whose faithfulness benefits others.

18. (Compare Pr 10:17; 12:1).

19. Self-denial, which fools will not endure, is essential to success.

20. The benefits of good and evil of bad society are contrasted.

21. (Compare Pr 11:31).

good … repaid—or, "He (God) will repay good."

22. wealth … just—While good men's estates remain in their families, God so orders that the gains of sinners enure to the just (compare Pr 28:8; Ps 37:18, 22, 26, &c.).

23. The laboring poor prosper more than those who injudiciously or wickedly strive, by fraud and violence, to supersede the necessity of lawful labor.

24. spareth—or, "withholds."

rod—of correction.

hateth—or, acts as if he hated him (compare Pr 3:12; 8:36).

chasteneth … betimes—or, "diligently seeks for him all useful discipline."

25. The comparative temporal prosperity of the righteous and wicked, rather than contentment and discontent, is noted.