Proverbs 26:17–28

17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears

Is he who passes by and 1meddles with astrife not belonging to him.

18 Like a madman who throws

aFirebrands, arrows and death,

19 So is the man who adeceives his neighbor,

And says, “bWas I not joking?”

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,

And where there is no awhisperer, bcontention quiets down.

21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

So is a acontentious man to kindle strife.

22 The awords of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,

And they go down into the 1innermost parts of the body.

23 Like an earthen avessel overlaid with silver bdross

Are burning lips and a wicked heart.

24 He who ahates disguises it with his lips,

But he lays up bdeceit in his 1heart.

25 When 1he aspeaks graciously, do not believe him,

For there are seven abominations in his heart.

26 Though his hatred acovers itself with guile,

His wickedness will be brevealed before the assembly.

27 He who adigs a pit will fall into it,

And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.

28 A lying tongue hates 1those it crushes,

And a aflattering mouth works ruin.