Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. New Living Translation Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot. English Standard Version Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. Berean Standard Bible Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. King James Bible Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. New King James Version Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross. New American Standard Bible Like an earthenware vessel overlaid with silver impurities Are burning lips and a wicked heart. NASB 1995 Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart. NASB 1977 Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are burning lips and a wicked heart. Legacy Standard Bible Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross Are fiery lips and an evil heart. Amplified Bible Like a [common] clay vessel covered with the silver dross [making it appear silver when it has no real value] Are burning lips [murmuring manipulative words] and a wicked heart. Christian Standard Bible Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel. Holman Christian Standard Bible Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel. American Standard Version Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross. Contemporary English Version Hiding hateful thoughts behind smooth talk is like coating a clay pot with a cheap glaze. English Revised Version Fervent lips and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross. GOD'S WORD® Translation [Like] a clay pot covered with cheap silver, [so] is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart. Good News Translation Insincere talk that hides what you are really thinking is like a fine glaze on a cheap clay pot. International Standard Version A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver— that's what smooth lips with a wicked heart are. Majority Standard Bible Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. NET Bible Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. New Heart English Bible Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart. Webster's Bible Translation Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. World English Bible Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionSilver of dross spread over potsherd, "" [Are] burning lips and an evil heart. Young's Literal Translation Silver of dross spread over potsherd, Are burning lips and an evil heart. Smith's Literal Translation Silver dross covering over a pot-sherd, burning lips and an evil heart. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSwelling lips joined with a corrupt heart, are like an earthen vessel adorned with silver dross. Catholic Public Domain Version In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart. New American Bible Like a glazed finish on earthenware are smooth lips and a wicked heart. New Revised Standard Version Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleLike silver dross which sticks to an earthen pot, so are enraged lips and an evil heart. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Like tried silver plated over a clay vessel, so are fiery lips and an evil heart. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Burning lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross. Brenton Septuagint Translation Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Similitudes and Instructions…22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being. 23Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart. 24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.… Cross References Matthew 23:27-28 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Psalm 55:21 His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed. Jeremiah 9:8 Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him. Matthew 15:8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Ezekiel 33:31 So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men. James 3:10-12 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be! / Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? / My brothers, can a fig tree grow olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. Romans 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions. Psalm 28:3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts. 1 Peter 2:1 Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. Luke 6:45 The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Psalm 12:2-3 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart. / May the LORD cut off all flattering lips and every boastful tongue. 2 Timothy 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these! Jeremiah 12:2 You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts. Treasury of Scripture Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. Proverbs 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. 2 Samuel 20:9,10 And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him… Ezekiel 33:31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. Jump to Previous Ardent Burning Coating Covered Covering Dross Earth Earthen Earthenware Evil Fervent Heart Lips Overlaid Plated Potsherd Silver Smooth Spread Vessel Waste WickedJump to Next Ardent Burning Coating Covered Covering Dross Earth Earthen Earthenware Evil Fervent Heart Lips Overlaid Plated Potsherd Silver Smooth Spread Vessel Waste WickedProverbs 26 1. observations about fools13. about sluggards 17. and about contentious busybodies Like glaze covering an earthen vessel This phrase uses the imagery of pottery, a common craft in ancient Israel. Earthen vessels were everyday items, often used for storage and cooking. The glaze, a thin layer applied to pottery, would make the vessel appear more attractive and sometimes waterproof. However, the glaze could hide imperfections or weaknesses in the clay. This metaphor suggests a superficial beauty or integrity that conceals underlying flaws. In biblical context, this can be compared to Jesus' rebuke of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27, where He calls them "whitewashed tombs," beautiful on the outside but full of decay within. The imagery emphasizes the danger of external appearances that mask internal corruption. are burning lips and a wicked heart Persons / Places / Events 1. Solomon- Traditionally attributed as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. 2. Ancient Israel - The cultural and historical context in which the Proverbs were written, reflecting the values and teachings of the time. 3. Earthen Vessel - A common household item in ancient times, made of clay, symbolizing something ordinary and fragile. 4. Glaze - A coating applied to pottery to make it appear more attractive, symbolizing superficial beauty or deception. 5. Burning Lips and Wicked Heart - Metaphors for deceitful speech and malicious intent, highlighting the contrast between appearance and reality. Teaching Points The Danger of DeceptionJust as a glaze can make a simple pot appear valuable, deceitful words can mask a wicked heart. We must be discerning and not be swayed by appearances alone. The Importance of Integrity True integrity involves aligning our words with our heart. We should strive for consistency between our internal values and external expressions. Guarding Our Speech Our words have the power to build up or destroy. We must be mindful of our speech, ensuring it reflects a heart aligned with God's truth. Evaluating True Worth Like an earthen vessel, our true value is not in outward appearances but in the purity and intentions of our heart. We should seek to cultivate inner beauty. Seeking God's Wisdom In a world full of deception, we need God's wisdom to discern truth from falsehood. Regular prayer and study of Scripture can guide us in this pursuit.(23) Burning lips--i.e., burning with love, while there is an evil heart within. A potsherd covered with silver dross.--Pottery glazed with dross of silver, a well-known method of ornamentation. For similar proverbs, comp. Matthew 23:27; Luke 11:39. Verse 23. - The next proverbs are concerned with hypocrisy. The Hebrew denotes the comparison simply by position (see on Proverbs 25:11), thus: An earthen vessel (or, potsherd) overlaid with silver dross - growing lips and a wicked heart. So called "silver dross" is litharge, an oxide of lead used to this day to put a glaze on pottery (comp. Ecclus. 38:30). The comparatively worthless article is thus made to assume a fine appearance. Thus lips that seem to burn with affection, and give the kiss of glowing, love, may mask a heart filled with envy and hatred Judas kisses and words of friendship hide the bad feelings that lurk within. Septuagint, "Silver given with guile is to be considered as a potsherd; smooth (λεῖα) lips hide a grievous heart" (comp. Matthew 23:27).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Like glazeכֶּ֣סֶף (ke·sep̄) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3701: Silver, money covering מְצֻפֶּ֣ה (mə·ṣup·peh) Verb - Pual - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 6823: To lay out, lay over an earthen vessel חָ֑רֶשׂ (ḥā·reś) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2789: Earthenware, earthen vessel, sherd, potsherd are burning דֹּלְקִ֣ים (dō·lə·qîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 1814: To burn, hotly pursue lips שְׂפָתַ֖יִם (śə·p̄ā·ṯa·yim) Noun - fd Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin and a wicked רָֽע׃ (rā‘) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil heart. וְלֶב־ (wə·leḇ-) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre Links Proverbs 26:23 NIVProverbs 26:23 NLT Proverbs 26:23 ESV Proverbs 26:23 NASB Proverbs 26:23 KJV Proverbs 26:23 BibleApps.com Proverbs 26:23 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 26:23 Chinese Bible Proverbs 26:23 French Bible Proverbs 26:23 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 26:23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel (Prov. 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