Proverbs 10:18

18 False lips hide hatred; he that bringeth forth despising is unwise.

Proverbs 10:18 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 10:18

He that hideth hatred [with] lying lips
Or he whose "lying lips hide hatred", which is much the same; who pretends to be a friend, and outwardly behaves as one, but inwardly nourishes and cherishes hatred in his heart, which he covers and conceals, till he has a proper opportunity of showing it; as Absalom to Ammon, Joab to Amasa, the men of Anathoth to Jeremiah, and Judas to Christ; see ( Proverbs 26:24-26 ) . Or, "he that hideth hatred [is a man of] lying lips" {m}; he is a liar, as the person next described is a fool. And he that uttereth slander is a fool; that brings it out by wholesale, and hides it not; who openly defames his neighbour, and in the most public manner; and with a multitude of words detracts from his good name, credit, and reputation, and loads him with calumny and reproach; such a man is a fool, a very wicked man: yea, not only the public slanderer, but the secret dissembler, who thinks himself a cunning man because he hides himself; each of these is a fool, the one as well as the other. Gersom thinks there is a comparison made between the dissembler and the slanderer; the one being a liar, and the other a fool; and that the former is more abominable and pernicious than the latter.

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FOOTNOTES:

F13 "Est vir laborium falsitatis", Piscator, "vel fallacium", Gejerus.

Proverbs 10:18 In-Context

16 The work of a just man is to life; but the fruit of a wicked man is to sin. (The work of a good person serveth unto life; but the fruit of the wicked is sin.)

17 The way of life is to him that keepeth chastising; but he that forsaketh blamings, erreth. (The way of life is for him who receiveth discipline; but he who forsaketh rebukes, erreth.)

18 False lips hide hatred; he that bringeth forth despising is unwise.

19 Sin shall not fail in much speaking; but he that measureth his lips, is most prudent. (Sin shall abound with much speaking; but he who ruleth his lips, is most prudent.)

20 Chosen silver is the tongue of a just man; the heart of wicked men is for nought. (Like chosen silver is the tongue of a righteous person; but the hearts of the wicked be worth nothing.)