Verse 32. The plain sense is, that the righteous speak those things whereby they have the favour both of God and man, and whereby they are in friendship and peace both with heaven and earth. But the mouth of the wicked careth not to offend either God or man, and seeketh not for love anywhere, being wholly pleased in perverseness. But many know what is _acceptable_ to God and man, but their lips do not know it. So the liar knoweth truth to be _acceptable_ to God and man, but their lips _do not know it:_ the profane person knoweth prayer to be acceptable, but his lips do not know it: the ill governor knoweth the reproof of vice to be acceptable, but his lips do not know it: the brawler knoweth mildness of speech to be acceptable, but his lips do not know it. Yea, the lips also of many speak that which is acceptable, but their lips do not know it; their speaking of it being in such a manner as maketh that which pleaseth God and pleaseth man, and he speaks it in a pleasing manner. Or else as _Clemens Alexandrinus_ readeth, the lips of the righteous know high things in speaking the high praises of the highest God, and in opening the truth of high things unto men.--_Jermin._ How, what, when, to whom to speak, is a matter of great wisdom. Yet this consideration of _acceptableness_ must involve no sacrifice of principle. Let it be a considerate accommodation of _mode_ to the diversities of tastes; a forbearance with lesser prejudices and constitutional infirmities; avoiding not all offences (which faithfulness to our Divine Master forbids), but all _needless_ offences, all uncalled-for occasions of design and irritation. "The meekness of wisdom" should be clearly manifested in Christian faithfulness (Jas. iii. 13). Thus Gideon melted the frowardness of the men of Ephraim (Judg. viii. 2, 3). Abigail restrained David's hands from blood (1 Sam. xxv. 23, 33). Daniel stood fearless before the mighty monarch of Babylon (Dan. iv. 27). Their lips knew what was acceptable, and their God honoured them.--_Bridges._ HOMILY ON THE ENTIRE CHAPTER. The pious and ungodly compared in respect--1. To their earthly good; 2. To their worth in the eyes of men; 3. To their outward demeanour in intercourse with others; 4. To their disposition of heart as this appears in their mien, their words, their acts; 5. To their diverse fruits, that which they produce in their moral influence upon others; 6. To their different fates as awarded to them at last in the retribution of eternity.--_Lange's Commentary._ * * * * * * CHAPTER XI.