Proverbs 26:24

24 Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech, but inside he holds on to deceit.

Proverbs 26:24 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 26:24

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips
He that bears a grudge in his mind, and retains hatred in his heart against any person, hides it all he can, till he has an opportunity of showing it as he would; he pretends a great deal of friendship with his lips, that his hatred might not be known; he would be thought to be a friend, when he is really an enemy; he does not choose as yet to make himself known what he is. Some render it to a sense the reverse, "the enemy", or "he that hateth, is known by his lips" F12; so the Targum, Vulgate Latin, and Syriac versions: if you carefully watch him, mark his words, and observe what he says, you will find out the hatred that lies in his heart; he cannot forbear saying something, at one time or another, which betrays the malignity of his mind; and layeth up deceit within him;
or, "though F13 he layeth up" hides it as much as he can, yet it will show itself in some way or another.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (rkny) "agnoscetur", Montanus, Vatablus; "cognoscetur", Tigurine version; "cognoscitur", Amama, so Luther.
F13 (w) "quamvis", Luther. apud Gejerus, Baynus.

Proverbs 26:24 In-Context

22 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily, and they go down into a person's innermost being.
23 [Like] a clay pot covered with cheap silver, [so] is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.
24 Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech, but inside he holds on to deceit.
25 When he talks charmingly, do not trust him because of the seven disgusting things in his heart.
26 His hatred is deceitfully hidden, but his wickedness will be revealed to the community.
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