Proverbs 26:18-28

18 Like a madman who throws 1firebrands, arrows, and death
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I am only joking!"
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no 2whisperer, 3quarreling ceases.
21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is 4a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 5The words of 6a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 7Like the 8glaze[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 9when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are 10seven abominations in his heart;
26 though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 11Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 26:18-28 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 11

  • 1. [Isaiah 50:11]
  • 2. Proverbs 16:28
  • 3. Proverbs 22:10
  • 4. See Proverbs 15:18
  • 5. Proverbs 18:8
  • 6. [See ver. 20 above]
  • 7. [Matthew 23:27; Luke 11:39]
  • 8. See Proverbs 25:4
  • 9. See Psalms 28:3
  • 10. [ver. 16]
  • 11. [Proverbs 28:10]; See Psalms 7:15

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. By revocalization; Hebrew silver of dross
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.