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 A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver—
    that’s what smooth[a] lips with a wicked heart are.
24 Someone who hates hides behind his words,
    harboring deceit within himself.
25 Though he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
    for there are seven detestable things in his heart.
26 Though malice disguises itself with deception,
    its evil will be exposed publicly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 So LXX; MT reads 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 whoever keeps it[a] fights them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 28:4 Lit. keeps the Law

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 person is concerned about the poor;
    but the wicked don’t understand what they need to know.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 29:7 Lit. understand knowledge

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

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12 When a ruler is listening to lies,
    all of his officials tend to become wicked.

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