Have a Straight Edge

(Proverbs 24:26 KJV)  Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

The Keil and Delitzsch commentary has a long paragraph discussing “kisses” (5401a) and “lips” (8193).  We will skip that because they come to the conclusion that the important point here is that it is a good thing to give the “right” (5228) “answer” (1697).

Such a simple statement.  It seems obvious.  Some answers are “right” (5228), some are wrong.  But that is not the contrast here.  This word means “straight” not “correct.”  It means that we don’t beat around the bush or cloud the issues.

Have you been there?  Someone asks a question.  You know the answer and how to give it.  Instead, for reasons that can vary, you get vague and obscure.  This is implying that such an answer is a form of lying and thus is a sin.

So?  Speak straight.  Speak truth.  God is making a list and doesn’t need to check it twice.