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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

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

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

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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 falsehood,
    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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