Proverbs 26:23
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart.
Brenton Septuagint
In The King James Version
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
In Context
22The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite even to the inmost parts of the bowels.
24A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit.
Cross References
Proverbs 10:18Righteous lips cover enmity; but they that utter railings are most foolish.
Proverbs 25:4Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
Ezekiel 33:31They approach thee as a people comes together, and sit before thee, and hear thy words, but they will not do them: for there is falsehood in their mouth, and their heart goes after their pollutions.
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 →