Proverbs 26:24

24 labiis suis intellegitur inimicus cum in corde tractaverit dolos

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 verba susurronis quasi simplicia et ipsa perveniunt ad intima ventris
23 quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata
24 labiis suis intellegitur inimicus cum in corde tractaverit dolos
25 quando submiserit vocem suam ne credideris ei quoniam septem nequitiae sunt in corde illius
26 qui operit odium fraudulenter revelabitur malitia eius in concilio
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.