Proverbs 26:23
Like silver dross laid over an earthen vessel, so are burning lips with a bad heart.
Leeser Tanakh
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 wounds, and they go down into the innermost chambers of the body.
24With his lips dissembleth he that hateth, and within himself layeth he up deceit:
Cross References
Proverbs 10:18He that hideth hatred hath lips of falsehood; and he that spreadeth abroad an evil report, is a fool.
Proverbs 25:4Take away the dross from the silver, and there will come forth a vessel for the melter.
Ezekiel 33:31And then they come unto thee as the people come, and they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, but do not execute them; for as merry songs they carry them in their mouth, while their heart goeth after their unlawful gains.
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 →