Proverbs 23:16
New International Version
my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

New Living Translation
Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right.

English Standard Version
My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.

Berean Standard Bible
My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

King James Bible
Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

New King James Version
Yes, my inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak right things.

New American Standard Bible
And my innermost being will rejoice When your lips speak what is right.

NASB 1995
And my inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak what is right.

NASB 1977
And my inmost being will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.

Legacy Standard Bible
And my inmost being will exult When your lips speak upright things.

Amplified Bible
Yes, my heart will rejoice When your lips speak right things.

Christian Standard Bible
My innermost being will celebrate when your lips say what is right.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
My innermost being will cheer when your lips say what is right.

American Standard Version
Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things.

Contemporary English Version
and if you are truthful, I will really be glad.

English Revised Version
Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
My heart rejoices when you speak what is right.

Good News Translation
I will be proud when I hear you speaking words of wisdom.

International Standard Version
My innermost being will be glad when your lips speak what is right.

Majority Standard Bible
My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

NET Bible
my soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

New Heart English Bible
yes, my heart will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right.

Webster's Bible Translation
Yes, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

World English Bible
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And my reins exult when your lips speak uprightly.

Young's Literal Translation
And my reins exult when thy lips speak uprightly.

Smith's Literal Translation
And my reins shall exult in the speaking of thy lips uprightnesses.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips shall speak what is right.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And my temperament will exult, when your lips will have spoken what is upright.

New American Bible
And my inmost being will exult, when your lips speak what is right.

New Revised Standard Version
My soul will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Yea, my heart shall rejoice, when your lips speak right things.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And my kidneys will be glad whenever your lips speak uprightness.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Yea, my reins will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and thy lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
True Riches
15My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice. 16My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. 17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.…

Cross References
Proverbs 15:23
A man takes joy in a fitting reply—and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 15:26
The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 12:18
Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

Proverbs 10:20-21
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth. / The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.

Proverbs 18:21
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.

Psalm 19:14
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 37:30
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks justice.

Psalm 49:3
My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.

Psalm 119:172
My tongue sings of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous.

Matthew 12:34-37
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. / The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure. / But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. ...

Ephesians 4:29
Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.


Treasury of Scripture

Yes, my reins shall rejoice, when your lips speak right things.

thy

Proverbs 8:6
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Ephesians 5:4
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

Jump to Previous
Exult Full Heart Inmost Joy Lips Reins Rejoice Right Soul Speak Thoughts Uprightly
Jump to Next
Exult Full Heart Inmost Joy Lips Reins Rejoice Right Soul Speak Thoughts Uprightly
Proverbs 23
1. Consider carefully what is before you














My inmost being will rejoice
This phrase reflects the deep emotional and spiritual satisfaction that comes from witnessing righteousness. In biblical context, the "inmost being" often refers to the heart or soul, the core of a person's emotions and moral compass. The joy described here is not superficial but profound, indicating a connection to divine truth. This aligns with the biblical theme that true joy is found in alignment with God's will, as seen in Psalm 16:11, where fullness of joy is found in God's presence.

when your lips speak
The emphasis on speech highlights the power of words in biblical teaching. Proverbs frequently addresses the importance of wise and righteous speech, as seen in Proverbs 18:21, which states that the tongue has the power of life and death. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, oral communication was a primary means of teaching and preserving wisdom. The act of speaking what is right is a reflection of one's inner character and wisdom, as Jesus taught in Matthew 12:34, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

what is right
This phrase underscores the biblical principle of righteousness, which is central to the teachings of Proverbs. Righteousness in this context refers to moral integrity and adherence to God's commandments. The Hebrew concept of righteousness (tsedeq) involves justice, truth, and ethical behavior. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative that calls for living in accordance with God's standards, as seen in Micah 6:8, which emphasizes doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God. The pursuit of righteousness is also a reflection of the character of Jesus Christ, who is described as the Righteous One in Acts 3:14.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. He wrote Proverbs to impart wisdom and understanding.

2. The Father
In the context of Proverbs, the father often represents a wise teacher or mentor imparting wisdom to a son or student.

3. The Son/Student
The recipient of the wisdom, often depicted as a young person or learner who is being guided in the ways of righteousness.

4. The Heart (Inmost Being)
In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of emotions, intellect, and will. It represents the core of a person's being.

5. Righteous Speech
The act of speaking truth and righteousness, which is a central theme in the wisdom literature of the Bible.
Teaching Points
The Joy of Righteous Speech
Speaking what is right brings joy not only to the speaker but also to those who hear it, reflecting the heart's alignment with God's truth.

The Heart's Response to Truth
Our inmost being, or heart, rejoices when we align our speech with righteousness, indicating a deep connection between our words and our spiritual state.

The Role of Mentorship
Just as a father rejoices in a child's right speech, mentors and spiritual leaders find joy in seeing their teachings bear fruit in others' lives.

The Power of Words
Words have the power to uplift and bring joy. As believers, we are called to use our speech to reflect God's truth and righteousness.

Cultivating Righteous Speech
Developing a habit of speaking what is right requires intentionality and reliance on God's wisdom, as found in Scripture.(16) My reins shall rejoice.--These being represented in Hebrew poetry as the seat of the deepest affections, answering to "heart" in Proverbs 23:15. (Comp. Psalm 7:9; Jeremiah 12:2; Revelation 2:23.)

Verse 16. - My reins shall rejoice. The "reins" (kelayoth), kidneys, are regarded as the seat of feeling and sensation (Job 19:27). or of the inner nature generally (Psalm 16:7; Revelation 2:22). I shall rejoice in my very soul when thy lips speak right things; i.e. when thy heart is so replete with wisdom, thy mind so well instructed as to utter naught but what is true and sensible (Proverbs 8:6). The composition of these two verses is noteworthy, 15a being parallel to 16b, and. 15b to 16a. Septuagint, "And thy lips shall linger in words (ἐνδιατρίψει λόγοις) with my lips, if they be right," which seems to mean, "If thy lips utter what is right, they will gather wisdom from my words and impart it to others."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
My inmost being
כִלְיוֹתָ֑י (ḵil·yō·w·ṯāy)
Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3629: A kidney, the mind

will rejoice
וְתַעְלֹ֥זְנָה (wə·ṯa‘·lō·zə·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 5937: To jump for, joy, exult

when your lips
שְׂ֝פָתֶ֗יךָ (p̄ā·ṯe·ḵā)
Noun - fdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

speak
בְּדַבֵּ֥ר (bə·ḏab·bêr)
Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

what is right.
מֵישָׁרִֽים׃ (mê·šā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4339: Evenness, prosperity, concord, straightness, rectitude


Links
Proverbs 23:16 NIV
Proverbs 23:16 NLT
Proverbs 23:16 ESV
Proverbs 23:16 NASB
Proverbs 23:16 KJV

Proverbs 23:16 BibleApps.com
Proverbs 23:16 Biblia Paralela
Proverbs 23:16 Chinese Bible
Proverbs 23:16 French Bible
Proverbs 23:16 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Proverbs 23:16 Yes my heart will rejoice when your (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 23:15
Top of Page
Top of Page