Proverbs 22:18

22:18 For it is pleasing if ¹  you keep these sayings ²  within you,

and ³  they are ready on your lips. ⁴ 

Psalms 19:10-11

19:10 They are of greater value ⁵  than gold,

than even a great amount of pure gold;

they bring greater delight ⁶  than honey,

than even the sweetest honey from a honeycomb.

19:11 Yes, your servant finds moral guidance there; ⁷ 

those who obey them receive a rich reward. ⁸ 

Psalms 119:103

119:103 Your words are sweeter

in my mouth than honey! ⁹ 

Psalms 119:111

119:111 I claim your rules as my permanent possession,

for they give me joy. ¹⁰ 

Jeremiah 15:16

15:16 As your words came to me I drank them in, ¹¹ 

and they filled my heart with joy and happiness

because I belong to you. ¹² 

[22:18]  ¹ tn Or “when” (so NIV).

[22:18]  ² tn Heb “keep them,” referring to the words of the wise expressed in these sayings. The referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[22:18]  ³ tn The term “and” does not appear in the Hebrew but is supplied in the translation.

[22:18]  ⁴ sn If the teachings are preserved in the heart/mind of the disciple, then that individual will always be ready to speak what was retained.

[19:10]  ⁵ tn Heb “more desirable.”

[19:10]  ⁶ tn Heb “are sweeter.” God’s law is “sweet’ in the sense that, when obeyed, it brings a great reward (see v. 11b).

[19:11]  ⁷ tn Heb “moreover your servant is warned by them.”

[19:11]  ⁸ tn Heb “in the keeping of them [there is] a great reward.”

[119:103]  ⁹ tn Heb “How smooth they are to my palate, your word, more than honey to my mouth.” A few medieval Hebrew mss, as well as several other ancient witnesses, read the plural “your words,” which can then be understood as the subject of the plural verb “they are smooth.”

[119:111]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “for the joy of my heart [are] they.”

[15:16]  ¹¹ sn Heb “Your words were found and I ate them.” This along with Ezek 2:8–3:3 is a poetic picture of inspiration. The prophet accepted them, assimilated them, and made them such a part of himself that he spoke with complete assurance what he knew were God’s words.

[15:16]  ¹² tn Heb “Your name is called upon me.”