Proverbs 26:17-28
The Voice
17 Like a man who seizes a wild dog by the ears,
so is anyone who walks by and meddles in someone else’s argument.
18 Like a madman who hurls flaming spears and shoots deadly arrows,
19 So is anyone who deceives a neighbor
and then says, “But I was only joking with you.”
20 When there is no wood, the fire goes out;
when there is no one to spread gossip, arguing stops.
21 Like charcoal to smoldering embers and dry wood to a fire,
so a hot-tempered man kindles strife.
22 Whispered gossip is like a delicious first course:
it is devoured with pleasure and then penetrates deep within you.
23 Like a shiny glaze[a] coating a rough clay pot,
so are burning lips that conceal an evil heart.
24 One who hates may camouflage it beneath pleasant words,
but deep inside him, treachery still rages;
25 Don’t believe him when he speaks kindly
because his heart is completely ruled by evil.[b]
26 And though he covers his hatred with cleverness,
his wicked ways will be publicly exposed.
27 The one who digs a trap for another will fall into it,
and the one who starts rolling a stone will have it roll back over him.
28 Liars take no pity on those they crush with their lies,
and flattery spoils everyone it touches.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
