Proverbs 10:18-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 10:18

Observe here, Malice is folly and wickedness. 1. It is so when it is concealed by flattery and dissimulation: He is a fool, though he may think himself a politician, that hides hatred with lying lips, lest, if it break out, he should be ashamed before men and should lose the opportunity of gratifying his malice. Lying lips are bad enough of themselves, but have a peculiar malignity in them when they are made a cloak of maliciousness. But he is a fool who thinks to hide any thing from God. 2.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 10:19

We are here admonished concerning the government of the tongue, that necessary duty of a Christian. 1. It is good to say little, because in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin, or sin doth not cease. Usually, those that speak much speak much amiss, and among many words there cannot but be many idle words, which they must shortly give an account of. Those that love to hear themselves talk do not consider what work they are making for repentance; for that will be wanted, and first or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:18

He that hideth hatred with lying lips ,.... Or he whose "lying lips hide hatred", which is much the same; who pretends to be a friend, and outwardly behaves as one, but inwardly nourishes and cherishes hatred in his heart, which he covers and conceals, till he has a proper opportunity of showing it; as Absalom to Ammon, Joab to Amasa, the men of Anathoth to Jeremiah, and Judas to Christ; see Proverbs 26:24 . Or, "he that hideth hatred is a man of lying lips" F13 "Est vir laborium... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 10:19

In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin ,.... Where a great deal is said, without care and forethought, there will not only be many weak things uttered, but much falsehood, and at least many idle things, which cannot be excused from sin; not but that much and long speaking may be to great profit and advantage, when it is with care and judgment, and founded on close meditation and study. Or, "sin ceaseth not" F14 לא יחדל "non cessabit", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 10:18

He that hideth - This is a common case. How many, when full of resentment, and deadly hatred, meditating revenge and cruelty, and sometimes even murder, have pretended that they thought nothing of the injury they had sustained; had passed by the insult, etc.! Thus lying lips covered the malevolence of a wicked heart. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 10:19

In the multitude of words - It is impossible to speak much, and yet speak nothing but truth; and injure no man's character in the mean while. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:1-32

The service of speech, etc "Man is a talking animal," we say. But if we are distinguished from the brute creation by the mere fact of speech, how truly are we divided from one another by the use we make of that human faculty! To what height of worthiness one man may rise, and what inestimable service he may render, but to what depth of wrong another man may fall, and what mischief he may work, by the use of his tongue! I. THE SERVICE OF SPEECH . "By our words" we may do great... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:15-21

A sevenfold strain of experience For the most part these sayings relate to earthly goods—their value, and the means for their acquisition. Godliness has the promise of both lives. Equally incredible would a religion which ignored the future be with one which ignored the present. Equally one-sided is the expectation only of earthly good from wisdom, and the expectation only of heavenly good. We must beware of a false materializing and of a false spiritualizing of religion. I. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:18

This verse ought to be translated, He that hideth hatred is [a man] of lying lips, and he that uttereth slander is a fool . He who cherishes hatred in the heart must be a liar and a hypocrite, speaking and acting in a way contrary to his real sentiments; if he divulges his slander, he is a stupid fool, injuring his neighbour, and procuring ill will for himself. The LXX . reads, "Just ( δίκαια ) lips conceal hatred;" but probably δίκαια is an error for ἄδικα or δόλια ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 10:19

There wanteth not sin; LXX ; "Thou wilt not avoid sin." Loquacity leads to exaggeration and untruthfulness, slander and uncharitableness (comp. Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 ; and Christ's and James's solemn warnings, Matthew 12:36 ; James 1:26 ; James 3:2 , etc.). "Speak little," says Pinart ('Meditations,' ch. 6.), "because for one sin which we may commit by keeping silence where it would be well to speak, we commit.a hundred by speaking upon all occasions" (see on Proverbs 17:27 ),... read more

Group of Brands