Proverbs 26:23

23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning [a] lips and a wicked 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 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.

Footnotes 1

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