Proverbs 26:23
Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: 1 Smooth lips cover a grievous heart. 1
Updated 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; 1 But they smite even to the inmost parts of the bowels. 1
24A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, 1 But in his heart he contrives deceit. 1
Cross References
Proverbs 10:18Righteous lips cover enmity; 1 But they that utter railings are most foolish. 1
Proverbs 25:4Beat the drossy silver, 1 And it shall be made entirely pure. 1
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 →