10:32

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

32a
The lips of the righteous know what is fitting,

32b but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.

There is an ellipsis in 10:32b. The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word is. In some languages, it may be necessary to supply the missing words from 10:32a. For example:

32b but the mouth of the wicked ⌊knows what⌋ is perverse.

10:32a–b

The lips of the righteous…the mouth of the wicked: As in 10:31, The lips and the mouth are figures of speech. They represent a person who speaks in a certain way.

10:32a

The lips of the righteous know what is fitting: The word fitting refers here to what is pleasing or favorable. So this line means that righteous people know how to say things that are kind, helpful, or acceptable to others.

Some other ways to translate this meaning are:

If you obey the Lord, you will always know the right thing to say. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Righteous people know the kind thing to say (Good News Translation)

For the word fitting, see the note on 8:35b.

10:32b

but the mouth of the wicked is perverse: In contrast to righteous people, wicked people know how to say only deceitful things. Another way to translate this line is:

but evil people only tell lies (New Century Version)

For the word perverse, see the note on 10:31b.

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