Ecclesiastes 26:23

Jerome's Latin Vulgate

Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile,
sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.

Parallel Translations

Clementine Latin Vulgate (1592)
Quomodo si argento sordido ornare velis vas fictile, sic labia tumentia cum pessimo corde sociata.

Nova Vulgata (1979)
Sicut argentum sordidum ornans vas fictile, sic labia levia et cor malum.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

That is, ardent professions of friendship from a wicked heart, however smooth, shining, and splendid they may appear, are like a vile vessel covered over with base metal. Proverbs 10:18, 2 Samuel 20:9, 2 Samuel 20:10, Ezekiel 33:31, Luke 22:47, Luke 22:48

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:27 - that I 2 Samuel 3:26 - he sent Ezra 4:2 - Let us Psalms 28:3 - mischief Proverbs 27:6 - the kisses Ecclesiastes 7:9 - anger Jeremiah 40:14 - Ishmael Jeremiah 41:1 - they did Jeremiah 41:6 - weeping Daniel 11:27 - shall be to Mark 12:14 - Master

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Burning lips, and a wicked heart,.... Either burning with wrath and malice; breathing out threatenings and slaughter; pursuing men with reproaches and slanders, arising from a wicked heart: or rather, burning with profession of love to God, and affection to good men; with great pretensions of kindness, and promises of good things, when their hearts are wicked, and they design noticing less; say one thing with their lips, with the greatest show of affection and sincerity, and mean another in their hearts. These

[are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross: which at a distance, or to less discerning persons, looks like silver, and is taken for it; when the covering is only dross, and what is within is only a potsherd, Or a piece of an earthen vessel, good for nothing: such are the specious professions and deceitful words, which flow from a wicked heart.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Burning lips - i. e., “Lips glowing with, affection, uttering warm words of love,” joined with a malignant heart, are like a piece of broken earthenware from the furnace, which glitters with the silver drops at stick to it, but is itself worthless.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 26:23. Burning lips and a wicked heart — Splendid, shining, smooth lips; that is, lips which make great professions of friendship are like a vessel plated over with base metal to make it resemble silver; but it is only a vile pot, and even the outside is not pure.