Proverbs 10 · Verse 32

Proverbs 10:32

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
Proverbs 10:32, King James Version

Proverbs 10:32 in other translations

BSBThe lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
WEBThe lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.
ASVThe lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked speaketh perverseness.
YLTThe lips of the righteous know a pleasing thing, And the mouth of the wicked perverseness!
DARBYThe lips of a righteous man know what is acceptable; but the mouth of the wicked is frowardness.
BBEThe lips of the upright man have knowledge of what is pleasing, but twisted are the mouths of evil-doers.
WebsterThe lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

What does Proverbs 10:32 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
32. know--regard and provide for (Psa 1:6). frowardness--all kinds of deceit and ill-nature. The word is plural.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable - And what they believe to be most pleasing and most profitable, that they speak, but the wicked man knows as well what is perverse, and that he speaketh forth. As the love of God is not in his heart, so the law of kindness is not on his lips.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 10:31-32

A good man discourses wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the sin, and will be the ruin of a wicked man, that he speaks what is displeasing to God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is kept by the power of God; and nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

Read the full comment on Proverbs 10:31-32 →

Proverbs 10:32 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

שִׂפְתֵ֣יsif.Tei[the] lips ofH8193
צַ֭דִּיקTza.dik[the] righteousH6662
יֵדְע֣וּןye.de.'Unthey know !H3045
רָצ֑וֹןra.TzonpleasureH7522
וּפִ֥יu.Fiand [the] mouth ofH6310
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563
תַּהְפֻּכֽוֹת\׃tah.pu.KhotperversitiesH8419

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 10:32

  • Proverbs 11:11

    By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

  • Proverbs 15:28

    The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

  • Proverbs 12:6

    The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

  • Proverbs 12:18

    There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

  • Proverbs 2:12

    To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

  • Proverbs 18:6-8

    A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

  • Proverbs 15:2

    The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

  • Ecclesiastes 12:10

    The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

  • Titus 2:8

    Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

  • Ecclesiastes 10:12

    The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

  • Daniel 4:27

    Wherefore, 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
know.
Ec 12:10; Da 4:27; Tit 2:8
but.
11:11; 12:6,18; 15:2,28; 18:6-8
frowardness. Heb. frowardnesses.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 10:31

    The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

  • Proverbs 10:32

    The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

Read all of Proverbs 10

Proverbs 10:32 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Los labios del justo conocerán lo que agrada: mas la boca de los impíos habla perversidades.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Les lèvres du juste savent ce qui est agréable, mais la bouche des méchants n’est que perversité.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Die Lippen des Gerechten verstehen sich auf Wohlgefälliges, aber der Mund der Gesetzlosen ist Verkehrtheit.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Labia justi considerant placita, et os impiorum perversa.