The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
Parallel translations
- WEB The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
- 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 to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
- Prov 15:28The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
- Prov 12:18There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
- Prov 2:12To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
- Prov 15:2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
- Eccl 12:10The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
- Prov 18:6–8A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
- Dan 4:27Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
- Titus 2:8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
- Eccl 10:12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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.