23 Smooth[a] lips with an evil heart
are like glaze on an earthen vessel.(A)
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.(B)
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his evil will be revealed in the assembly.

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Footnotes

  1. 26:23 LXX; MT reads Burning

23 Like the glaze[a] covering an earthen vessel
    are smooth[b] lips with an evil heart.
24 An enemy dissembles in speaking
    while harboring deceit within;(A)
25 when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it,
    for there are seven abominations concealed within;(B)
26 though hatred is covered with guile,
    the enemy’s wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. 26.23 Cn: Heb silver of dross
  2. 26.23 Gk: Heb burning

Those who reject the law praise the wicked,(A)
but those who keep the law pit themselves against them.(B)

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Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law struggle against them.(A)

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The righteous person knows the rights[a] of the poor,(A)
but the wicked one does not understand these concerns.

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Footnotes

  1. 29:7 Lit justice

The righteous know the rights of the poor;
    the wicked have no such understanding.(A)

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12 If a ruler listens to lies,(A)
all his officials will be wicked.

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12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
    all his officials will be wicked.

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