Proverbs 26:17-28

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁷ A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his
is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.
¹⁸ Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,^(A)
19 so is the person who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

²⁰ Without wood, fire goes out;
without a gossip, conflict dies down.^(B)
21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.^(C)
22 A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.^[a](D)

²³ Smooth^[b] lips with an evil heart
are like glaze on an earthen vessel.^(E)
24 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech
and harbors deceit within.
²⁵ When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
for there are seven detestable things in his heart.^(F)
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
²⁷ The one who digs a pit will fall into it,
and whoever rolls a stone—
it will come back on him.^(G)
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.