⁸ Their mouths are full of lies;
    they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead.

² Neighbors lie to each other,
    speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.

²⁰ The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes.
    He trusts something that can’t help him at all.
Yet he cannot bring himself to ask,
    “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”

⁶ They visit me as if they were my friends,
    but all the while they gather gossip,
    and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.

⁴ They plan to topple me from my high position.
    They delight in telling lies about me.
They praise me to my face
    but curse me in their hearts. Interlude

⁵ They hatch deadly snakes
    and weave spiders’ webs.
Whoever eats their eggs will die;
    whoever cracks them will hatch a viper.
⁶ Their webs can’t be made into clothing,
    and nothing they do is productive.
All their activity is filled with sin,
    and violence is their trademark.
⁷ Their feet run to do evil,
    and they rush to commit murder.
They think only about sinning.
    Misery and destruction always follow them.

² while the wicked slander me
    and tell lies about me.
³ They surround me with hateful words
    and fight against me for no reason.

²⁶ Therefore, he solemnly swore
    that he would kill them in the wilderness,