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;

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 By revocalization; Hebrew silver of dross

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