Proverbs 16:27
A worthless man is preparing evil, || And on his lips [is] as a burning fire.
Literal Standard Version
In The King James Version
An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
In Context
26A laboring man has labored for himself, || For his mouth has caused [him] to bend over it.
28A contrary man sends forth contention, || A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
Cross References
2 Samuel 20:1And there happened to be a man of worthlessness there, and his name [is] Sheba, son of Bichri, a Benjamite, and he blows with a horn and says, “We have no portion in David, and we have no inheritance in the son of Jesse; each [goes] to his tents, O Israel.”
Psalms 52:2Your tongue devises mischiefs, || Like a sharp razor, working deceit.
Proverbs 2:4If you seek her as silver, || And search for her as hid treasures,
Proverbs 6:14Contrariness [is] in his heart, devising evil at all times, || He sends forth contentions.
Proverbs 19:28A worthless witness scorns judgment, || And the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.
Habakkuk 2:13Behold, is it not from YHWH of Hosts || And peoples are fatigued for fire, || And nations for vanity are weary?
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:27
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him. This is designed to engage us to diligence, and quicken us, what our hand finds to do, to do it with all our might, both in our worldly business and in the work of religion; for in the original it is, The soul that labours labours for itself. It is heart-work which is here intended, the labour of the soul, which is here recommended to us, 1. As that which will be absolutely needful. Our mouth is continually craving it of us; the… Read the whole commentary →