Proverbs 26:23

23 [Like] {impure silver} which overlays an earthen vessel, [so are] smooth lips and an evil heart.

Proverbs 26:23 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 26:23

Burning lips, and a wicked heart
Either burning with wrath and malice; breathing out threatenings and slaughter; pursuing men with reproaches and slanders, arising from a wicked heart: or rather, burning with profession of love to God, and affection to good men; with great pretensions of kindness, and promises of good things, when their hearts are wicked, and they design noticing less; say one thing with their lips, with the greatest show of affection and sincerity, and mean another in their hearts. These [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross:
which at a distance, or to less discerning persons, looks like silver, and is taken for it; when the covering is only dross, and what is within is only a potsherd, Or a piece of an earthen vessel, good for nothing: such are the specious professions and deceitful words, which flow from a wicked heart.

Proverbs 26:23 In-Context

21 [As] charcoal [is] to hot embers and wood [is] to fire, so a man of quarrels [is] to kindling strife.
22 The words of a whisperer [are] like delicious morsels, and they go down to the inner parts of the body.
23 [Like] {impure silver} which overlays an earthen vessel, [so are] smooth lips and an evil heart.
24 On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but {inside} he will harbor deceit.
25 When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven abominations [are] in his heart.

Footnotes 2

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.