Proverbs 26:20-28 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 26:20-28 ▼
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20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer [who gossips], contention quiets down. For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
22 The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten]; They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon]. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts.
23 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. Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart. Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips, But he stores up deceit in his heart. Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.
25 When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him, For seven abominations are in his heart. when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts.
26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile and deceit, His malevolence will be revealed openly before the assembly. though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. 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 wounds and crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
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