PROV 26:23 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 25:1–29:27: This is Hezekiah’s collection of Solomon’s proverbs

This section is the second collection of Solomon’s proverbs. These proverbs were organized and copied by men who served King Hezekiah. Most scholars divide this section into two groups. These groups differ in several ways.

The first group (chapters 25–27) has many more comparisons and admonitions. In Hebrew, most of these comparisons are metaphors in which one or more illustrations precede the topic. Some English versions change the order so that the topic precedes the illustration(s). You should follow the order that expresses the meaning naturally and effectively in your language.

In the first group, many proverbs are one verse long. As with the individual proverbs in the main collection of Solomon’s proverbs (Section 10:1–22:16), they are not related to the proverbs around them. Other proverbs in this group are two or more verses long. Still others are one-verse proverbs that are closely related in theme. Proverbs in all three categories will be marked as separate paragraphs.

The second group (chapters 28–29) has more contrastive proverbs. The proverbs in this group are each one verse long. They will not be marked as separate paragraphs.

Some other headings for this section are:

More Proverbs of Solomon (NIV)

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah (NET)

These are also wise things that Solomon said

Paragraph 26:23–26

These verses are warnings against evil people who deceive others with their words. They say nice things to conceal their true intentions to harm others.

Verse 23 gives an introductory example of this kind of deception. Verses 24–25 give more details about a particular deceiver along with a warning not to believe him. Verse 26 assures the reader that this person’s wickedness will eventually become known.

26:23

The NRSV has been used as the source line for 26:23b, because it follows the textual recommendation.

^23aLike glaze covering an earthen vessel

^23bare smooth lips with an evil heart. (NRSV)

The topic of this comparison (26:23b) is the insincere, flattering words that conceal a person’s evil intentions. Such words are compared to a shiny glaze that covers a plain clay pot. The similarity is that the pleasing outward appearance or evidence is deceptive. It hides the true nature of what is on the inside.

26:23a

Like glaze covering an earthen vessel

¶ Think about the way that a shiny/beautiful glaze covers a clay pot.
¶ Just as people paint a cheap clay pot with a shiny coat of glaze/paint,

Like glaze covering an earthen vessel: There is a textual issue in this line:

Some scholars think that the original text had “like glaze.” For example:
like the glaze covering an earthen vessel (NRSV) (BSB, CEV, ESV, NAB, NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV, REB, GNT)
The Masoretic Text (MT) has “silver dross.” For example:
a coating of silver dross (NIV11) (GW, KJV, NIV11; NJB, NJPS)

Although more scholars favor the MT,Most versions follow option (1), based on words for “glaze” in Ugaritic and Hittite as well as different vowels and word division. Recent studies have shown that the Ugaritic evidence is not accurate, so the MT is a better textual choice. Scholars who support this choice include Waltke, Fox, Longman, Whybray, Delitzsch, Cohen, Toy, and Murphy See Waltke (pages 341–342) for more details. For a description of the differences in the Hebrew pointing and word division based on Ugaritic and Hittite, see footnote (a) in the NET. it is recommended that you follow option (1) to avoid confusing “silver dross” with a cheap kind of silver.With either textual option, the main point is that the shiny, beautiful coating on the outside conceals the fact that the pot is made of ordinary clay. The problem with the text “silver dross” is that it is easy to translate in a misleading way. Translations such as “cheap silver” GW) or “base silver-plate” (NJB) accurately express the point of the proverb. However, they inaccurately imply that “silver dross” is an inferior kind of silver.

“Silver dross” is lead oxide, a shiny substance that is produced when silver ore is refined. It is not silver. (See the note on 25:4a for more information on “silver dross.”) It was used to glaze or paint the outside of a clay pot to make it look like it was made from silver.

Some other ways to translate glaze covering are:

a pretty glaze (NLT)

a shiny coating (NCV)

26:23a–b

(combined/reordered)

¶ People who speak kind/pleasant words to hide their evil thoughts/plans are like a beautiful coating of glaze/paint that hides the cheapness of an ordinary clay pot.

26:23b

are burning lips and a wicked heart.

Similarly, smooth/insincere talk hides a person’s wicked thoughts/plans.
so also they cover/hide their wicked intentions by using flattering words.

(NRSV) are smooth lips with an evil heart: There is a textual issue here:

The Septuagint (LXX) has “smooth lips.” For example:
smooth talk (GW) (CEV, GW, NCV, NLT, NRSV, REB, GNT)
The MT has “burning lips.” For example:
fervent lips (NIV) (BSB, ESV, KJV, NASB, NET, NIV, NJB, NJPS)

It is recommended that you follow option (1). The idea of “smooth” lips or words occurs elsewhere in Proverbs. It fits well with the comparison to a shiny glaze in the parallel line.In Proverbs 5:3 and 7:21, the enticing, flattering words of an adulteress are described as “smooth.” In Proverbs 26:28, some versions translate the word “smooth” as “flattering.” The phrase “burning lips” occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament.Fox (page 800) points out that a similar phrase, “a scorching fire” occurs in Proverbs 16:27b, but there it describes the destructive words of a scoundrel, not “fervent” or “ardent” words of love or friendship. In Song of Songs, similar figures of speech, “flashes of fire, a raging flame” (NRSV), are used to describe love. Here in Proverbs 26:23, the figure of speech refers to lips, not to love, and all the terms used are different. See also Waltke (pages 341–342) for similar arguments.

(NRSV) smooth lips: This phrase is used here as a figure of speech. It represents either smooth words or a person who uses smooth words. As used here, smooth words are words that are insincere, deceitful, and flattering. Although they sound pleasant, it is clear from the context that they are intended to hide evil intentions.

Some other ways to translate this line are:

so is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart (GW)

are insincere words that hide wicked thoughts

General Comment on 26:23a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to state the topic before the illustration. For example:

Kind words from a wicked mind are like a shiny coating on a clay pot. (NCV)

Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot. (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure

כֶּ֣סֶף סִ֭יגִים מְצֻפֶּ֣ה עַל־חָ֑רֶשׂ שְׂפָתַ֖יִם דֹּלְקִ֣ים וְ⁠לֶב־רָֽע

silver_of impure overlays on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in earthen_vessel lips fervent and,a_heart_of evil

If it would be more natural in your language, you could change the order of these clauses. Alternate translation: “Burning lips and a heart of evil are silver of dross overlaid on a clay vessel”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

כֶּ֣סֶף סִ֭יגִים מְצֻפֶּ֣ה עַל־חָ֑רֶשׂ

silver_of impure overlays on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in earthen_vessel

Here Solomon refers to burning lips and a heart of evil as if they are Silver of dross overlaid on a clay vessel. The point is that both are deceptive. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly or use a simile. Alternate translation: “Very deceptive” or “Like silver of dross overlaid on a clay vessel”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

כֶּ֣סֶף סִ֭יגִים

silver_of impure

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe dross that is removed from silver when someone refines it. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “Dross from silver”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

מְצֻפֶּ֣ה

overlays

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “that someone overlaid”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

שְׂפָתַ֖יִם דֹּלְקִ֣ים וְ⁠לֶב־רָֽע

lips fervent and,a_heart_of evil

Here, and indicates that someone has both burning lips and a heart of evil at the same time. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. Alternate translation: “are burning lips with a heart of evil”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

שְׂפָתַ֖יִם דֹּלְקִ֣ים

lips fervent

See how you translated the same use of lips in [10:18](../10/18.md).

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

דֹּלְקִ֣ים

fervent

Here Solomon refers to something being emotional or fervent as if that thing were burning. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: “passionate”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / possession

וְ⁠לֶב־רָֽע

and,a_heart_of evil

Here Solomon is using the possessive form to describe a heart that is characterized by evil. If your language would not use the possessive form for this, you could use a different expression. Alternate translation: “and an evil heart”

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

וְ⁠לֶב

and,a_heart_of

See how you translated the same use of heart in [2:2](../02/02.md).

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear PROV 26:23

Hebrew word order