Proverbs 26:23
Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Updated King James 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 talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
24He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him;
Cross References
Proverbs 10:18He that hides hatred with lying lips, and he that utters a slander, is a fool.
Proverbs 25:4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Ezekiel 33:31And they come unto you as the people comes, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness.
Luke 11:39And the Lord said unto him, Now do all of you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening 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 →