Proverbs 26:24

24 Someone who wants to hurt you uses his words to hide his hatred. But his heart is full of lies that cover up his evil plans.

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 anyone who talks about others are like tasty bites of food. They go deep down inside you.
23 Warm words that come from an evil heart are like shiny paint on a clay pot.
24 Someone who wants to hurt you uses his words to hide his hatred. But his heart is full of lies that cover up his evil plans.
25 What a person says can be charming. But don't believe him. Seven things that God hates can fill that person's heart.
26 Hatred can be hidden by lies. But what is evil will be shown to everyone.
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