John Gill Commentary Proverbs 22:18

"For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips." — Proverbs 22:18 (ASV)

For [it is] a pleasant thing if you keep them within you ,
&c.] Or, "in your belly" ^F1 . That is, in your heart, in the inmost recesses of it; where the words or doctrines of the wise should be received in the love of them, and carefully laid up and retained; which will upon reflection yield much pleasure, like Ezekiel's roll, which was in his belly as honey for sweetness; and which also is very profitable as an antidote against sin, (Psalms 119:11) ; they shall withal be fitted in your lips ;
&c.] become them, and be suitable and graceful to them: or, "shall be ordered [and disposed] in" or "by your lips" ^F2 ; being received into the heart, and digested there, they shall easily and freely go off the tongue, which shall be as the pen of a ready writer; they shall be delivered in a regular manner, with great liberty and facility; by a good digestion of Gospel truths, and a comfortable experience of them, persons become apt to teach others.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F1: (Knjbb) "in ventre tuo", V. L. Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis, Schultens.
• F2: (wnwk) "disponantur", Vatablus.