Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
Parallel translations
- KJV Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
- BSB Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
- NKJV Fervent lips with a wicked heart Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
- NASB Like an earthenware vessel overlaid with silver impurities Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
- NLT Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Smooth lips over an evil heart are like a cheap pot coated with a thin silver glaze. A pleasing surface can hide inner corruption.
Overview
The image of glazing over common clay pictures attractive words masking a malicious heart. It warns that eloquence is no proof of integrity. Scripture consistently calls us to look beyond outward speech to the heart, which God alone fully sees (1 Sam 16:7; Matt 23:27).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Luke 22:47–48While he was still speaking, behold, a multitude, and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him.
- Luke 11:39The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
- Prov 10:18He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
- Ezek 33:31They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.
- Prov 25:4Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;
- Matt 23:27“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
- 2 Sam 20:9–10Joab said to Amasa, “Is it well with you, my brother?” Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 26:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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