King James Version

Proverbs 24:26

Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

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Hebrew

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שְׂפָתַ֥יִםsefatayimlanguageשָׂפָהnoun, common, feminine, dual, absolute — “language”, the ordinary formH8193the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.יִשָּׁ֑קyishaqkissנָשַׁקverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “kiss”, an unfinished actionH5401to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weaponsarmed (men), rule, kiss, that touched.מֵ֝שִׁ֗יבmeshivagainשׁוּבverb, hiphil, participle, absolute — “again”, a verb used as a describing wordH7725to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again,…דְּבָרִ֥יםdevarimcauseדָּבָרnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “cause”, the ordinary formH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…נְכֹחִֽיםnekhochimplainנָכֹחַadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “plain”, the ordinary formH5228straightforward, i.e. (figuratively), equitable, correct, or (abstractly), integrityplain, right, uprightness.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer.

Young’s Literal Translation

Lips he kisseth who is returning straightforward words.

World English Bible

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Darby Translation

He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.

Douay-Rheims

He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

and men will kiss lips that answer well.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

χείλη δὲ φιλήσουσιν ἀποκρινόμενα λόγους ἀγαθούς.