Proverbs 26:23

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are [like] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כֶּ֣סֶף סִ֭יגִים מְצֻפֶּ֣ה עַל־חָ֑רֶשׂ שְׂפָתַ֖יִם דֹּלְקִ֣ים וְלֶב־רָֽע׃

Transliteration

Kesef sigim metzuppeh upon-ḥares sefatayim doleqim and-lev-ra.

Grammar Details

*kesef*: noun, masculine, singular - silver
*sigim*: noun, masculine, plural - dross/refuse
*metzuppeh*: verb, Pual participle, masculine singular - overlaid
*al*: preposition - upon
*ḥares*: noun, masculine, singular - earthenware/pottery
*sefatayim*: noun, feminine, dual - lips
*doleqim*: verb, Qal participle, masculine plural - burning/fervent
*ve*: conjunction - and
*lev*: noun, masculine, singular construct - heart of
*ra*: adjective, masculine, singular - evil

Word Meanings

*kesef*: silver
*sigim*: dross/refuse/impure metal
*metzuppeh*: overlaid/plated/covered
*ḥares*: earthenware/pottery/clay vessel
*sefatayim*: lips/speech
*doleqim*: burning/fervent/smooth
*lev*: heart/mind/inner person
*ra*: evil/wicked/bad

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Luke 11:39 : 39 And the Lord said unto him, Now {G2511} ye the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.
Luke 22:47-48 : 47 While he yet spake, behold, a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them; and he drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
2 Sam 20:9-9 : 9 And Joab said to Amasa, Is it well with thee, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the body, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. And Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
Prov 10:18 : 18 He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.
Prov 25:4 : 4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
Ezek 33:31 : 31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but do them not; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their gain.
Matt 23:27 : 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Prov 26:24-26
3 verses
79%
24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:
25When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:
26Though [his] hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.
Prov 26:21-22
2 verses
76%
21[ As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
Prov 16:27
76%
27A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
Prov 17:3-4
2 verses
75%
3The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.
4An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
Prov 10:20
74%
20The tongue of the righteous is [as] choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth.
Prov 24:2
73%
2For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief.
Prov 26:28
72%
28A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Prov 25:4
71%
4Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
Prov 10:18
71%
18He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.
Prov 4:24
71%
24Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.
Prov 6:18
70%
18A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
Prov 27:6
70%
6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
Ps 12:2-3
2 verses
70%
2They speak falsehood every one with his neighbor: With flattering lip, and with a double heart, do they speak.
3Jehovah will cut off all flattering lips, The tongue that speaketh great things;
Prov 18:7-8
2 verses
70%
7A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
Prov 15:7
70%
7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish [doeth] not so.
Ps 140:3
70%
3They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips. {H5542}
Prov 12:22
70%
22Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah; But they that deal truly are his delight.
Prov 5:3
70%
3For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil:
Prov 10:32
69%
32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] perverseness.
Prov 25:11
69%
11A word fitly spoken Is [like] apples of gold in network of silver.
Prov 17:20
69%
20He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Ps 31:18
69%
18Let the lying lips be dumb, Which speak against the righteous insolently, With pride and contempt.
Rom 3:13-14
2 verses
69%
13Their throat is an open sepulchre; With their tongues they have used deceit: The poison of asps is under their lips:
14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Prov 20:15
69%
15There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Ps 55:21
69%
21His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.
Jer 6:29
69%
29The bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed of the fire: in vain do they go on refining; for the wicked are not plucked away.
Jas 3:6
69%
6And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members {G3779} is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell.
Prov 26:18
69%
18As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,
Ps 34:13
69%
13Keep thy tongue from evil, And thy lips from speaking guile.
Prov 16:30
69%
30He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.
Ps 10:7
69%
7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression: Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
Prov 27:21
69%
21The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is [tried] by his praise.
Ezek 24:11
69%
11Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that it may be hot, and the brass thereof may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the rust of it may be consumed.
Ps 52:2
68%
2Thy tongue deviseth very wickedness, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Prov 8:7
68%
7For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Isa 1:22
68%
22Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.
Ps 5:9
68%
9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is very wickedness; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue.
Ps 39:3
68%
3My heart was hot within me; While I was musing the fire burned: [Then] spake I with my tongue:
Prov 16:23
68%
23The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.
Prov 25:23
68%
23The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
Ezek 22:22
68%
22As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have poured out my wrath upon you.
Prov 15:26
68%
26Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah; But pleasant words [are] pure.
Prov 6:14
68%
14In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who soweth discord.