Proverbs 26 · Verse 28

Proverbs 26:28

A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Proverbs 26:28, King James Version

Proverbs 26:28 in other translations

BSBA lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
WEBA lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
ASVA lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
YLTA lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
DARBYA lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
BBEA false tongue has hate for those who have clean hearts, and a smooth mouth is a cause of falling.
WebsterA lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

What does Proverbs 26:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
28. Men hate those they injure. A lying tongue--"lips" for the persons (compare Pr 4:24; Psa 12:3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it - He that injures another hates him in proportion to the injury he has done him; and, strange to tell, in proportion to the innocence of the oppressed. The debtor cannot bear the sight of his creditor; nor the knave, of him whom he has injured.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
There are two sorts of lies equally detestable. A slandering lie, the mischief of this every body sees. A flattering lie, which secretly works ruin. A wise man will be more afraid of a flatterer than of a slanderer.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 26:28 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לְֽשׁוֹן\־le.sho.no.She-a tongue ofH3956
שֶׁ֭קֶרShe.kerfalsehoodH8267
יִשְׂנָ֣אyis.Na'it hatesH8130
דַכָּ֑יוda.Kavcrushed [people] itsH1790
וּפֶ֥הu.Pehand a mouthH6310
חָ֝לָ֗קcha.LakflatteringH2509
יַעֲשֶׂ֥הya.'a.Sehit makesH6213
מִדְחֶֽה\׃mid.ChehstumblingH4072

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 26:28

  • John 8:44-49

    Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. …

  • Luke 20:20-21

    And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:

  • Proverbs 29:5

    A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

  • Proverbs 6:24

    To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

  • John 10:32-33

    Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

  • Proverbs 7:21-23

    With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

  • Proverbs 7:5

    That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

  • John 8:40

    But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

  • John 15:22-24

    If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
lying.He that injures another hates him in proportion to the injury; {Proprium humani ingenii est, odisse quem læseris,} says Tacitlus: and strange to say, in proportion to the innocence of the injured.
Joh 8:40,44-49; 10:32,33; 15:22-24
a flattering.
6:24; 7:5,21-23; 29:5; Lu 20:20,21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 26:27

    Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.

  • Proverbs 26:28

    A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Read all of Proverbs 26

Proverbs 26:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		La falsa lengua atormenta al que aborrece: y la boca lisonjera hace resbaladero.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		La langue fausse hait ceux qu’elle a écrasés, et la bouche flatteuse amène la ruine.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Eine Lügenzunge haßt diejenigen, welche sie zermalmt; und ein glatter Mund bereitet Sturz.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Lingua fallax non amat veritatem, et os lubricum operatur ruinas.