Proverbs 10:32

“The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, etc.] To God and man; what is well pleasing to, God, and what ministers grace to the hearers, or what is grateful: and such things they will deliver out; they are used and accustomed to them; not only the righteous know in their judgment what is acceptable, but they use themselves to say those things; they not only know them in theory, but practise them: some men know what is acceptable, but their lips do not know it; they are not used to it, but the contrary; but the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] frowardness; or perverse things, as before. Or, “the mouth of the wicked [knoweth] frowardness”f291; or perverse things; or is used only to speak…”

“know--regard and provide for (Psa 1:6). frowardness--all kinds of deceit and ill-nature. The word is plural. Next: Proverbs Chapter 11”

“Know - i. e., “Know, and therefore utter.” So, in like manner, the “mouth of the wicked” knows, and therefore speaks frowardness, and that only. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on Proverbs 10". "Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/proverbs-10.html. 1870. StudyLight.org © 2001-2026 Powered by Lightspeed Technology”

“The lips - Knowledge is here ascribed to the lips, as it is to the hands, Psa 78:72, because they are conducted by knowledge and wisdom. Acceptable - What is truly worthy of acceptation. Next: Proverbs Chapter 11”

“know: Ecc 12:10; Dan 4:27; Tit 2:8 but: Pro 11:11, Pro 12:6, Pro 12:18, Pro 15:2, Pro 15:28, Pro 18:6-8 frowardness: Heb. Frowardnesses Next: Proverbs Chapter 11”

“32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the godless is mere falsehood. Hitzig, instead of ידעוּן, reads יבּעוּן; the ἀποστάζει \[they distil or send forth\] of the lxx does not favour this, for it is probably only a corruption of ἐπίσταται, which is found in several MSS the Graec. Venet., which translates ποιμανοῦσι, makes use of a MS which it sometimes misreads. The text does not stand in need of any emendations, but rather of a corrected relation between the clauses, for the relation of 31a with 32b, and of 32a with 31b, strongly commends itself (Hitzig); in that case the explanation lies near: the lips of the righteous find what is acceptable, viz., to…”