10 Heb “noble” or “princely.” Wisdom begins the first motivation by claiming to speak noble things, that is, excellent things.
11 Heb “opening of my lips” (so , ). The noun “lips” is a metonymy of cause, with the organ of speech put for what is said.
12 Heb “roof of the mouth.” This expression is a metonymy of cause for the activity of speaking.
13 The word “truth” (אֱמֶת, ’emet) is derived from the verbal root אָמַן (’aman) which means “to support.” There are a number of derived nouns that have the sense of reliability: “pillars,” “master craftsman,” “nurse,” “guardian.” Modifiers related to this group of words includes things like “faithful,” “surely,” “truly” (amen). In the derived stems the verb develops various nuances: The Niphal has the meanings of “reliable, faithful, sure, steadfast,” and the Hiphil has the meaning “believe” (i.e., consider something dependable). The noun “truth” means what is reliable or dependable, firm or sure.
14 Wise lips detest wickedness; wisdom hates speaking wicked things. In fact, speaking truth results in part from detesting wickedness.
15 Heb “wickedness is an abomination to my lips” (so , , ).
16 The phrase could be rendered with an understood ellipsis: “all the words of my mouth [are said] in righteousness”; or the preposition could be interpreted as a beth essentiae: “all the words of my mouth are righteousness.”
17 The verb פָּתַל (patal) means “to twist.” In the Niphal it means “to wrestle” (to twist oneself). It was used in Gen 30:8 for the naming of Naphtali, with the motivation for the name from this verb: “with great struggling.” Here it describes speech that is twisted. It is a synonym for the next word, which means “twisted; crooked; perverse.”
18 Heb “front of.” Describing the sayings as “right in front” means they are open, obvious, and clear, as opposed to words that might be twisted or perverse. The parallel word “upright” means “straight, smooth, right.” Wisdom’s teachings are in plain view and intelligible for those who find knowledge.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Hear, for I will speak noble things,

and from my lips will come what is right,

for my mouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

They are all straight to him who understands,

and right to those who find knowledge.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;

I open my lips to speak what is right.

My mouth speaks what is true,

for my lips detest wickedness.

All the words of my mouth are just;

none of them is crooked or perverse.

To the discerning all of them are right;

they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Listen, for I speak of noble things,

and what my lips say is right.

For my mouth tells the truth,

and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

All the words from my mouth are righteous;

none of them are deceptive or perverse.

All of them are clear to the perceptive,

and right to those who discover knowledge.

NLTNew Living Translation

Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.

Everything I say is right,

for I speak the truth

and detest every kind of deception.

My advice is wholesome.

There is nothing devious or crooked in it.

My words are plain to anyone with understanding,

clear to those with knowledge.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Listen! For noble things I will speak,

and upright things from the opening of my lips.

My mouth will utter truth,

and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All sayings of my mouth are in righteousness;

none of them are twisted and crooked.

All of them are straight to him who understands,

and upright to those who find knowledge.

KJV 1900King James Version

Hear; for I will speak of excellent things;

And the opening of my lips shall be right things.

For my mouth shall speak truth;

And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;

There is nothing froward or perverse in them.

They are all plain to him that understandeth,

And right to them that find knowledge.

Public Domain