22:18

This verse gives a reason for following the commands in 22:17. If the listener obeys those commands, it will naturally lead to his following the last two steps in the learning process (underlined). When he does this, the overall result will be pleasant.

18a for it is pleasing when you keep them in you

18b and they are constantly on your lips.

See the General Comment on 22:18a–b after the notes on 22:18b for a way to reorder these two lines.

22:18a

for it is pleasing: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for introduces the reason for listening to the speaker’s wise words and thinking about them. Some versions do not introduce the reason with an explicit word such as for. For example:

It is pleasant (God’s Word)

Introduce this reason in a way that is natural in your language.

The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pleasing refers here to an action or situation that is pleasant or agreeable. It gives a person pleasure or happiness. For example:

it will be a delight (New Jerusalem Bible)

In this context, the person who experiences this good result is probably the obedient listener. Some versions make this explicit. For example:

You will be glad (Contemporary English Version)

when you keep them within you: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as within you is literally “stomach” or “belly.” In this context, it refers figuratively to a person’s inner being, where he stores his thoughts. Some other ways to translate this clause are:

if you keep them in mind (God’s Word)
-or-
to keep them deep within you (New Jerusalem Bible)

In some languages, it may be more natural to leave the location implied. For example:

that you know these sayings (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
if you remember them (Good News Translation)

22:18b

and they are constantly on your lips: This clause indicates that the listener is prepared to tell someone else what he has learned. The word lips is a figure of speech (metonymy) that refers to the action of speaking. In some languages, there may be a natural expression that uses a part of the body, such as the lips or tongue. For example:

they will be on the tip of your tongue (God’s Word)

In other languages, it may be more natural to translate this clause without using a figure of speech. For example:

and can quote them (Good News Translation)
-or-
you are ready to repeat them (New Century Version)

General Comment on 22:18a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to put the result at the end of these two lines. For example:

When you remember them and are able to tell them to others, it will give you much happiness.

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