Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, August 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Complete Jewish Bible

Proverbs 24:26

Giving an honest answer is like giving a kiss.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Rulers;   Young Men;  

Dictionaries:

- Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Honesty;   Proverbs, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Lip;   Proverbs, Book of;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Prov'erbs, Book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Kiss;   Proverbs, Book of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Kiss and Kissing;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He who gives an honest answergives a kiss on the lips.
Hebrew Names Version
An honest answer Is like a kiss on the lips.
King James Version
Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
English Standard Version
Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.
New American Standard Bible
One who gives a right answer Kisses the lips.
New Century Version
An honest answer is as pleasing as a kiss on the lips.
Amplified Bible
He kisses the lips [and wins the hearts of people] Who gives a right and straightforward answer.
World English Bible
An honest answer Is like a kiss on the lips.
Geneva Bible (1587)
They shall kisse the lippes of him that answereth vpright wordes.
Legacy Standard Bible
He kisses the lipsWho responds with right words.
Berean Standard Bible
An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
Contemporary English Version
Giving an honest answer is a sign of true friendship.
Darby Translation
He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.
Easy-to-Read Version
An honest answer is as pleasing as a kiss on the lips.
George Lamsa Translation
The people shall kiss the lips of those who give admonition.
Good News Translation
An honest answer is a sign of true friendship.
Lexham English Bible
He will kiss the lips, he who gives an honest answer.
Literal Translation
He kisses the lips of one who returns right words.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He maketh him self to be well loued, that geueth a good answere.
American Standard Version
He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer.
Bible in Basic English
He gives a kiss with his lips who gives a right answer.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
King James Version (1611)
Euery man shall kisse his lippes that giueth a right answere.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Euery man shall kisse his lippes that geueth a good aunswere.
English Revised Version
He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
He that answerith riytful wordis, schal kisse lippis.
Update Bible Version
He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer.
Webster's Bible Translation
[Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer.
New English Translation
Like a kiss on the lips is the one who gives an honest answer.
New King James Version
He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.
New Living Translation
An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship.
New Life Bible
To give the right answer is like a kiss on the lips.
New Revised Standard
One who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Lips, should one kiss with one who answereth in right words.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.
Revised Standard Version
He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.
Young's Literal Translation
Lips he kisseth who is returning straightforward words.
THE MESSAGE
An honest answer is like a warm hug.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He kisses the lips Who gives a right answer.

Contextual Overview

23 These also are sayings of the wise: Showing partiality in judgment is not good. 24 He who tells the guilty, "You are innocent," will be cursed by peoples, reviled by nations; 25 but with those who condemn him, things will go well, and a good blessing will come upon them. 26 Giving an honest answer is like giving a kiss.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

shall: Proverbs 15:23, Proverbs 16:1, Proverbs 25:11, Proverbs 25:12, Genesis 41:38-57, Daniel 2:46-48, Mark 12:17, Mark 12:18, Mark 12:32-34

giveth a right answer: Heb. answereth right words, Job 6:25

Reciprocal: Joshua 22:21 - answered

Cross-References

Genesis 22:5
Avraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey. I and the boy will go there, worship and return to you."
Genesis 24:48
bowed my head, prostrated myself before Adonai and blessed Adonai , God of my master Avraham, for having led me in the right way to obtain my master's brother's [grand]daughter for his son.
Genesis 24:52
When Avraham's servant heard what they said, he prostrated himself on the ground to Adonai .
Exodus 4:31
The people believed; when they heard that Adonai had remembered the people of Isra'el and seen how they were oppressed, they bowed their heads and worshipped.
Exodus 12:27
say, ‘It is the sacrifice of Adonai 's Pesach [Passover], because [ Adonai ] passed over the houses of the people of Isra'el in Egypt, when he killed the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" The people of Isra'el bowed their heads and worshipped.
Exodus 34:8
At once Moshe bowed his head to the ground, prostrated himself
1 Chronicles 29:20
Then David said to all the community, "Now bless Adonai your God." All the community blessed Adonai , the God of their ancestors, bowing their heads and prostrating themselves before Adonai and before the king.
2 Chronicles 20:18
Y'hoshafat bowed his head with his face to the ground; while all Y'hudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim fell down before Adonai , worshipping Adonai ;
2 Chronicles 29:30
Then Hizkiyahu the king and the leaders ordered the L'vi'im to sing praises to Adonai , using the words of David and of Asaf the seer. They sang praises until they were filled with joy, and they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves.
Nehemiah 8:6
‘Ezra blessed Adonai , the great God; and all the people answered, "Amen! Amen!" as they lifted up their hands, bowed their heads and fell prostrate before Adonai with their faces to the ground.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

[Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer. Either as a witness to a question put to him in court, to which he answers aptly and uprightly; or rather as a judge, who, having heard a cause, answers and gives his opinion of it faithfully, and pronounces a righteous sentence; everyone will love and respect him, and hearken to him and obey him; both affection and obedience are signified by a kiss; see Psalms 2:12.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Better, He shall kiss lips that giveth a right answer, i. e., he shall gain the hearts of men as much as by all outward signs of sympathy and favor. Compare 2 Samuel 15:1-6.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 24:26. Kiss his lips — Shall treat him with affection and respect.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile