The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
Parallel translations
- KJV The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
- BSB The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
- NKJV The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
- NASB The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked, what is perverted.
- NLT The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The righteous know how to say what is fitting and gracious, while the wicked speak what is perverse. Wise speech discerns what is acceptable and helpful.
Overview
This verse completes the chapter's emphasis on the tongue, contrasting words that are timely and acceptable with words that are distorted. The righteous have a discernment, shaped by the fear of the Lord, for what is right to say. Such gracious, seasoned speech reflects the wisdom believers are to grow in as they are conformed to Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Prov 11:11By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
- Prov 12:6The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
- Prov 15:28The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
- Prov 12:18There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
- Prov 2:12to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things;
- Prov 15:2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of fools gush out folly.
- Eccl 12:10The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
- Prov 18:6–8A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
- Dan 4:27Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
- Titus 2:8and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned; that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
- Eccl 10:12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 10:32 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.