8:8

In this verse, the parallel lines describe Wisdom’s words from opposite points of view. Verse 8:8a describes what her words are like. Verse 8:8b describes what her words are not like.

8a
All the words of my mouth are righteous ;

8b
none are crooked or perverse.

8:8a

All the words of my mouth are righteous: The Hebrew word ṣedeq that the Berean Standard Bible translates as righteous refers here to words that conform to God’s standard. The New International Version translates this word as “just.” See the note on 1:3b.

In this verse, where “righteous” words are contrasted with “crooked” words, the meaning may be equivalent to “true” (Good News Translation), “honest,” (New Century Version) or “sincere” (New American Bible). As in previous verses, the words of my mouth is a figurative way of saying “the words that I say” or “my words.”

8:8b

none are crooked or perverse: The word crooked literally means “twisted” or “contorted.” Here it has the sense of “deceptive” or “tricky.”

The literal meaning of perverse is “warped” or “crooked.” Here it has almost the same meaning as the first word.

If figurative terms such as “crooked” or “twisted” cannot be used about a person’s words in your language, you may need to use nonfigurative terms. For example:

not one is misleading or deceptive (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
nothing is false or misleading (Good News Translation)

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