Proverbs 26:23
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 Version
Silver 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 Bible
Swelling 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 Bible
Like 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 1917
Burning 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.

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Ardent Burning Coating Covered Covering Dross Earth Earthen Earthenware Evil Fervent Heart Lips Overlaid Plated Potsherd Silver Smooth Spread Vessel Waste Wicked
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Proverbs 26
1. observations about fools
13. about sluggards
17. and about contentious busybodies














Like glaze covering an earthen vessel
This phrase uses a vivid metaphor to describe the deceptive nature of certain individuals. The "glaze" refers to a thin, shiny coating applied to pottery to make it appear more attractive. In the Hebrew context, the word for "glaze" can also imply a superficial or deceptive covering. Archaeologically, ancient pottery was often glazed to enhance its appearance, but the glaze could hide imperfections or weaknesses in the clay beneath. This imagery suggests that just as a glaze can make a simple clay pot look valuable, so can outward appearances mask inner corruption. The "earthen vessel" symbolizes something common and fragile, emphasizing the contrast between appearance and reality. In a spiritual sense, this warns believers to be discerning, recognizing that not everything that glitters is gold, and to seek the true character beneath the surface.

are burning lips
The phrase "burning lips" conveys the idea of passionate or fervent speech. In the Hebrew language, the word for "burning" can imply intensity or fervor, often associated with fire. Historically, fire has been a symbol of both purification and destruction. Here, "burning lips" may refer to words that are intense and persuasive but ultimately destructive. This can be seen as a caution against those who use eloquent or fiery speech to deceive or manipulate others. In a scriptural context, the Bible frequently warns against the power of the tongue, as seen in James 3:6, which describes the tongue as a fire. Believers are encouraged to be wary of those whose words may seem passionate but are rooted in deceit or malice.

and a wicked heart
The "wicked heart" is the core of the warning in this verse. In Hebrew, the word for "wicked" often denotes moral corruption or evil intent. The heart, in biblical terms, is the seat of one's emotions, intentions, and will. A "wicked heart" suggests a deep-seated moral failing or malicious intent. Throughout scripture, the heart is central to one's relationship with God, as seen in Proverbs 4:23, which advises guarding the heart above all else. This phrase underscores the danger of individuals who may speak with fervor but harbor evil intentions. From a conservative Christian perspective, this serves as a reminder to cultivate a pure heart, aligning one's inner life with God's righteousness, and to be cautious of those whose outward expressions do not match their inner character.

(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 glaze
כֶּ֣סֶף (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


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 26:23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 26:22
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