His speech was smoother than butter, But his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.
Parallel translations
- WEB His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.
- KJV The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
- BSB His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
- NKJV The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords.
- NLT His words are as smooth as butter, but in his heart is war. His words are as soothing as lotion, but underneath are daggers!
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
The betrayer's words were smooth as butter while his heart waged war. It unmasks flattering speech that conceals hostile intent.
Overview
David exposes the hypocrisy of the false friend, whose soothing words hid drawn swords. The contrast between soft speech and warring heart warns against deceptive flattery. Such duplicity ultimately stands judged before God, who sees the heart behind the words (1 Samuel 16:7).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Ps 57:4My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
- Prov 5:3–4For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
- Ps 28:3Don’t draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.
- Prov 26:28A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
- Luke 20:20–21They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.
- Ps 12:2Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.
- Prov 26:24–26A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbors evil in his heart.
- Ps 64:3who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words,
- Matt 26:25Judas, who betrayed him, answered, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You said it.”
- Prov 12:18There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
- Ps 62:4They fully intend to throw him down from his lofty place. They delight in lies. They bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
- John 13:2During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
- Ps 59:7Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For”, they say, “who hears us?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Psalms are Christ's own prayer book and a gallery of his portraits — the suffering one of Psalm 22, the risen Lord of Psalm 16, the priest-king of Psalm 110, the Son to whom the nations are given.
How Psalms 55:21 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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