LIARS ARE HATERS

Passage: Proverbs 26:13-28

Key verse: 23

NIV

13 A sluggard says,(A) “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”(B)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.(C)
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.(D)
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.(E)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(F)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(G)

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,(H)
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.(I)
25 Though their speech is charming,(J) do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.(K)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit(L) will fall into it;(M)
    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.(N)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth(O) works ruin.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

13 (A)The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
    There is a lion in the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so does a sluggard on his bed.
15 (B)The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is (C)wiser in his own eyes
    (D)than seven men who can answer sensibly.
17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
    is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who throws (E)firebrands, arrows, and death
19 is the man who deceives his neighbor
    and says, “I am only joking!”
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
    and where there is no (F)whisperer, (G)quarreling ceases.
21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
    so is (H)a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 (I)The words of (J)a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 (K)Like the (L)glaze[a] covering an earthen vessel
    are fervent lips with an evil heart.
24 Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
    and harbors deceit in his heart;
25 (M)when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
    for there are (N)seven abominations in his heart;
26 though his hatred be covered with deception,
    his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 (O)Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
    and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and a flattering mouth works ruin.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 26:23 By revocalization; Hebrew silver of dross
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

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.

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!

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