Proverbs 26:24

24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself;

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.

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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 a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.

23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips, And lays up deceit within himself;

25 When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart;

26 Though his hatred is covered by deceit, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.