Pr 10.32
32 The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.
The Parts:
Parallelism Examined |
|
32a |
32b |
|
lips of the righteous |
mouth of the wicked |
|
bring forth |
(does not bring forth) |
|
what is acceptable |
what is perverted |
acceptable – delight, favorable, pleasure (for shades of meaning, see the verses below)
bring forth (know) – knowledge which integrates with life, includes perception. This “knowledge” reflects in relationships, behavior, attitudes.
References to consider:
Acceptable
Ps 5:12 (favor or goodwill of God)
12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.
Lev 1:3 (delight or acceptance of an individual)
3 ‘If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer it, a male without defect; he shall offer it at the doorway of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the Lord.
Ps 40:8 (desire, pleasure in the specific will of God or man)
8 I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”
Sharpening in my life today:
Our final gem in Proverbs 10 turns our attention to the “form” of words.
Just a note on the “form of words” in Proverbs may give us an illustration. When we read Proverbs, it, by our standards, seems more abstract. The use of the third person style seems rather impersonal and often less “directive” than we may have expected. We’re often much more prone to “directly” say something!
By this manner of teaching, the teacher builds an evaluative grid into the learner. When the learner enters life, he is able to evaluate himself (an reward himself) regarding his choices of wisdom, or, of foolishness!
Proverbs places the locus of training, responsibility, and control within the hands of the learner who must now choose. Here is how “wisdom,” i.e., skill in living, is developed.
Our “likeness” to the God of life and His righteousness will impact the “form” of our words! When we come to the New Testament, we’ll find such a walk is one of love, Eph5.4.
4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
This is a good time to look at the “form” of our words for speech “formed” in righteousness “perceives” (knows) and brings forth pleasure, delight, and favor with those around us.
Such speech is good, profitable, beckoning, but, most of all it reflects God’s likeness in us!
We may not see ourselves as divinely ministering, yet with words well formed we can surround someone with the likeness of God’s favor, encouragement, blessing, guidance, and much more!
Prov 27.17