8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Words of the ideal Wisdom, which find their highest fulfillment in that of the Incarnate Word. Compare Luke 4:22; Matthew 11:19.
All the words - are in righteousness - בצדק betsedek, in justice and equity, testifying what man owes to his God, to his neighbor, and to himself; giving to each his due. This is the true import of צדק tsadak.
There is nothing froward - נפתל niphtal, tortuous, involved, or difficult.
Or perverse - עקש ikkesh, distorted, leading to obstinacy. On the contrary,
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness,.... Or "with righteousness" (x); are connected with it, are agreeable to it; are righteous ones, consistent with righteousness, with the righteous nature, will, and law of God: or "are concerning righteousness" (y) the necessity of righteousness in order to eternal life; the insufficiency of man's own righteousness to entitle to it; the need, worth, and excellency of the righteousness of Christ for that purpose; and of the propriety and usefulness of a life of righteousness and holiness, which the grace of God instructs men in;
there is nothing froward or perverse in them; that is contrary to right reason, or to the law of God, or to the Scriptures of truth, or to the analogy of faith; nor is there any contradiction in the doctrines of the Gospel one to another, but an entire harmony and uniformity in them; they are not "yea" and "nay".
(x) "cum justitia", Piscator, Gejerus, Michaelis; , Sept. (y) "Gloriatio de justitia sua, vel invitatio ad accipiendam justitiam per fidem", Cocceius.
in righteousness--or, "righteous" (Psalm 9:8; Psalm 11:7).
froward--literally, "twisted," or contradictory, that is, to truth.
*More commentary available at chapter level.