Proverbs 26:23
Fervent lips and a wicked heart are an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
A Conservative Version
In The King James Version
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
In Context
22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
24He who hates masquerades with his lips, but he lays up deceit within him.
Cross References
Proverbs 10:18He who hides hatred is of lying lips. And he who utters a slander is a fool.
Proverbs 25:4Take away the dross from the silver, and there comes forth a vessel for the refiner.
Ezekiel 33:31And they come to thee as the people come, and they sit before thee as my people. And they hear thy words, but do not do them. For with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.
Luke 11:39And the Lord said to him, Now ye Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your interior is full of plundering and wickedness.
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 26:21-23
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Contention is as a fire; it heats the spirit, burns up all that is good, and puts families and societies into a flame. Now here we are told how that fire is commonly kindled and kept burning, that we may avoid the occasions… Read the whole commentary →