The Meaning of Proverbs 10:32 Explained

Proverbs 10:32

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

YLT: The lips of the righteous know a pleasing thing, And the mouth of the wicked perverseness!

Darby: The lips of a righteous man know what is acceptable; but the mouth of the wicked is frowardness.

ASV: The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked'speaketh perverseness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Proverbs 10:32 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Speech indicates character. "Fitting" (NIV) is better than "acceptable," and "perverted" means inappropriate.

Context Summary

Proverbs 10:17-32 - The Blessing Of The Lord Maketh Rich
Let us specially avoid talking too much. Silence is golden. See Proverbs 10:19. Yet the tongue of the just is as choice silver and the lips of the righteous feed many, Proverbs 10:20-21. When we speak, let us say something and let the people to whom we speak feel that their heart is lighter and that the heavenly horizons are nearer and clearer. Whatever you do, beware of uttering slander, Proverbs 10:18. You know, by your own experience, what is acceptable; see to it that your mouth brings forth wisdom and grace, Proverbs 10:31-32.
But this portion of Scripture deals, not only with the speech of the good man, but with his stability. The blessing of God is upon him, enriching him in all manner of ways; and there is no alloy in this gold, no bitterness in God's love, Proverbs 10:22. The desire of the righteous is granted, because it is begotten of the divine Spirit. He is built on the Everlasting Rock, Proverbs 10:25; Proverbs 10:30. His hope is gladness, Proverbs 10:28. As he walks in God's way, he gathers strength, Proverbs 10:29. Though he fall he is not utterly cast down; for God succors him with His saving strength, Psalms 37:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Proverbs 10

1  Proverbs of Solomon: observations of moral virtues, and their contrary vices

What do the individual words in Proverbs 10:32 mean?

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable but the mouth of the wicked [what is] perverse
שִׂפְתֵ֣י צַ֭דִּיק יֵדְע֣וּן רָצ֑וֹן וּפִ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים תַּהְפֻּכֽוֹת

שִׂפְתֵ֣י  The  lips 
Parse: Noun, fdc
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
צַ֭דִּיק  of  the  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
יֵדְע֣וּן  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
רָצ֑וֹן  what  is  acceptable 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָצֹון  
Sense: pleasure, delight, favour, goodwill, acceptance, will.
וּפִ֥י  but  the  mouth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים  of  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
תַּהְפֻּכֽוֹת  [what  is]  perverse 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: תַּהְפֻּכֹות  
Sense: perversity, perverse thing.