LIARS ARE HATERS

Proverbs 26:13-28 / Keywords 26:23

Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.

26:13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,

    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges,

    so a sluggard turns on his bed.

15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

    than seven people who answer discreetly.

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears

    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting

    flaming arrows of death

19 is one who deceives their neighbor

    and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;

    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,

    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

    they go down to the inmost parts.

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware

    are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.

24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,

    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.

25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,

    for seven abominations fill their hearts.

26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,

    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;

    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,

    and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Footnotes

a. Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth

1. This passage starts off by warning us against laziness. Those who loaf around miss opportunities and fail to do what they should do. Laziness is wickedness, and it makes people powerless to get out of bed. Lost in their dream world, procrastinators deceive themselves into thinking they are superior to others. Then there are those who meddle in other people’s business. They spread stories and turn decent people into backbiting, wild dogs. 

2. The next set of problematic people are liars. They are generally people who are close to us, who deceive us, and then act as if they were just joking. A vicious liar whispers in the ear and creates dissension in a group. Such liars pretend that they like us and act gracious, but they are hiding all kinds of abominations against us in their hearts. These people will fall into their own pit! 

3. Verse 28 says that a liar hates their victims. Lying reveals our attitude toward others. Liars break the bond of trust in a community and tear down unity. Let’s reflect on whether we view lying as a small sin or a deeper, serious problem. 

Prayer Father, thank you for giving me the Holy Spirit through Jesus. Please help me to overcome the spirits of procrastinating, meddling, and lying. 

One Word Don’t lie