At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Ps. 16: 11)
“Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer” (Proverbs 24:26).
“Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips” (Proverbs 24:26, ESV).
A kiss on the lips is pleasant, and there are times when it is a pleasant surprise.
Honesty is refreshing. Straight talk is like a fresh breeze off the bay. Frankness is a virtue that is greatly appreciated by the honest listener.
By way of contrast, when someone is not willing to give a straight answer, the results are convoluted and messy, hard to follow, and lead straight into the muddle.
A straight answer need not be rude. Rudeness, no doubt, takes away the pleasant effect of the honesty, and is more like a punch in the mouth than a kiss on the lips. It is possible to give the right answer, the honest answer, while remaining diplomatic. If you are a guest at someone’s home, and they ask you what you thought of the soup, it would not be appropriate to appeal to this proverb as your justification for saying that it was “the worst sludge you ever had to deal with in your life.” It is possible to be truthful, to meet the terms of this parable, and say something like, “to be honest, pureed beet goulash is not my best. I am sure someone with adequate training would rate it more highly than I could do.”
There is an English proverb that touches on this principle—“honesty is the best policy.” It really is.
