23 (A)Like the (B)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 (C)when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
    for there are (D)seven abominations in his heart;
26 though his hatred be covered with deception,
    his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 By revocalization; Hebrew silver of dross

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.

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

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

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A righteous man (A)knows the rights of the poor;
    a wicked man does not (B)understand such knowledge.

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

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

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

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