Proverbs 26:19-28

19 So is the man who 1deceives his neighbor, And says, "2Was I not joking?"
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no 3whisperer, 4contention quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a 5contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The 6words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Like an earthen 7vessel overlaid with silver 8dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 He who 9hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up 10deceit in his heart.
25 When he 11speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred 12covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be 13revealed before the assembly.
27 He who 14digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a 15flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 26:19-28 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 13

In this chapter is an account of a man of God being sent to exclaim against Jeroboam's altar, and threaten its destruction, of which he gave a sign, which was accomplished, and with it the withering of the king's hand, which was healed upon the prophet's prayer for him, 1Ki 13:1-7, who would have entertained him at his house, but he refused the offer, and departed, 1Ki 13:8-10, but an old prophet in Bethel hearing of him, rode after him, and fetched him back to eat bread with him, through a lie he told him, 1Ki 13:11-19 upon which the word came to the old prophet, threatening the man of God with death for disobeying his command, and which was accordingly executed by a lion that met him in the way, and slew him, 1Ki 13:20-24, of which the old prophet being informed, went and took up his carcass, and buried it in his own sepulchre, where he charged his sons to bury him also when dead, believing that all the man of God had said would be fulfilled, 1Ki 13:25-30 and the chapter is closed with observing the continuance of Jeroboam in his idolatry, 1Ki 13:33,34.

Cross References 15

  • 1. Proverbs 24:28
  • 2. Ephesians 5:4
  • 3. Proverbs 16:28
  • 4. Proverbs 22:10
  • 5. Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 29:22
  • 6. Proverbs 18:8
  • 7. Matthew 23:27; Luke 11:39
  • 8. Proverbs 25:4
  • 9. Psalms 41:6; Proverbs 10:18
  • 10. Proverbs 12:20
  • 11. Psalms 28:3; Proverbs 26:23; Jeremiah 9:8
  • 12. Matthew 23:28
  • 13. Luke 8:17
  • 14. Esther 7:10; Proverbs 28:10
  • 15. Proverbs 29:5

Footnotes 4

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