Proverbs 26:17-28

English Standard Version

¹⁷ Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
    is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
¹⁸ Like a madman who throws ^(A)firebrands, arrows, and death
¹⁹ is the man who deceives his neighbor
    and says, “I am only joking!”
²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out,
    and where there is no ^(B)whisperer, ^(C)quarreling ceases.
²¹ As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
    so is ^(D)a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
^22 (E)The words of ^(F)a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into the inner parts of the body.
^23 (G)Like the ^(H)glaze^[a] covering an earthen vessel
    are fervent lips with an evil heart.
²⁴ Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
    and harbors deceit in his heart;
^25 (I)when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
    for there are ^(J)seven abominations in his heart;
²⁶ though his hatred be covered with deception,
    his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
^27 (K)Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
    and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
²⁸ A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and a flattering mouth works ruin.