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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.

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Footnotes

  1. 26:23 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Burning.
  2. 26:25 Hebrew seven evils.

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

To reject the law is to praise the wicked;
    to obey the law is to fight them.

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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 godly care about the rights of the poor;
    the wicked don’t care at all.

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

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12 If a ruler pays attention to liars,
    all his advisers will be wicked.

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

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