Proverbs 26:20-26
New King James Version
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
And where there is no [a]talebearer, strife ceases.
21 (A)As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a [b]talebearer are like [c]tasty trifles,
And they go down into the [d]inmost body.
23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart
Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips,
And lays up deceit within himself;
25 (B)When [e]he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart;
26 Though his hatred is covered by deceit,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:20 gossip or slanderer, lit. whisperer
- Proverbs 26:22 gossip or slanderer
- Proverbs 26:22 A Jewish tradition wounds
- Proverbs 26:22 Lit. rooms of the belly
- Proverbs 26:25 Lit. his voice is gracious
Proverbs 26:20-26
Lexham English Bible
20 For lack of wood, a fire goes out,
and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.
21 As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire,
so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels,
and they go down to the inner parts of the body.
23 Like impure silver[a] which overlays an earthen vessel,
so are smooth lips and an evil heart[b].
24 On his lips, an enemy will pretend,
but inside[c] he will harbor deceit.
25 When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him,
for seven abominations are in his heart.
26 Though hatred is covered with guile,
its evil will be exposed in the assembly.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:23 Literally “silver of impurities”
- Proverbs 26:23 Or “mind”
- Proverbs 26:24 Literally “in his midst”
Proverbs 26:28
New King James Version
28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,
And a flattering mouth works (A)ruin.
Proverbs 26:28
Lexham English Bible
28 A tongue of deceit hates its victim,
and a flattering mouth makes ruin.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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