Proverbs 26:20-26
New Living Translation
20 Fire goes out without wood,
and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
21 A quarrelsome person starts fights
as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
22 Rumors are dainty morsels
that sink deep into one’s heart.
23 Smooth[a] words may hide a wicked heart,
just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.
24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
Their hearts are full of many evils.[b]
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.
Proverbs 26:20-26
English Standard Version
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
and where there is no (A)whisperer, (B)quarreling ceases.
21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
so is (C)a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 (D)The words of (E)a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 (F)Like the (G)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 (H)when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
for there are (I)seven abominations in his heart;
26 though his hatred be covered with deception,
his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 26:23 By revocalization; Hebrew silver of dross
Proverbs 26:28
New Living Translation
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
and flattering words cause ruin.
Proverbs 26:28
English Standard Version
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
