Proverbs 10:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool.

NIV: Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.

NASB: One who conceals hatred has lying lips, And one who spreads slander is a fool.

CSB: The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

NLT: Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.

KJV: He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

NKJV: Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a fool.

Hatred is a grievous sin. It is the opposite of the virtue love. Love causes a person to sacrifice for the one he loves, but hatred causes a person to wish only bad things for the one he hates (Romans 12:9). A natural aspect of hate is the willingness to use blatant lies or deception against a victim. Often, a hateful person tries to disguise their contempt for others, even pretending to like the ones he hates. In doing so, he commits hypocrisy, another sin that offends the Lord (1 Peter 2:1). That kind of hidden hate might go unnoticed in the world, but it will not be missed by God (Hebrews 4:13).

Then again, a hateful person may choose to openly speak against the object of their spite. He may start rumors with the intent of ruining a reputation (Psalm 101:5; Colossians 3:8). He may engage in name calling. David's enemies slandered him (Psalm 41:5–8), and Jesus' enemies hurled insults at Him. While Jesus hung on the cross, "those who passed by derided him" (Matthew 27:39), and "the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him" (Matthew 27:41).

Those who engage in openly hateful speech, of course, put themselves at risk of backlash and other consequences (Proverbs 10:10–13). Speaking hatefully of others, especially in the form of slander, is asking for trouble.

Proverbs 10:11–32 contrasts the righteous and the wicked, focusing on their different speech patterns, their different lifestyles, their different attitudes, and their different destinies. Verses 21 through 27 are especially focused on the different results which can be expected from pursuing godliness, versus pursuing sin.

This chapter begins 375 "proverbs," which are general-case lessons or observations. These wise remarks continue the discussion of wisdom and wickedness begun in chapters 1—9. Most of the verses in chapter 10 contain a sharp contrast, with the conjunction "but" separating the lines. Often, the subject changes from verse to verse. The contrasting subjects include sons, treasure, work ethic, reputation, relationships, success, and speech.

In Proverbs 7—9 Solomon contrasts wisdom and wickedness in the symbolic persons of Lady Wisdom and Woman Folly. He calls upon his sons, or students, to choose wisdom, and he points out the benefits of choosing wisdom and the disastrous results of choosing wickedness. Chapter 10 presents vivid contrasts between wisdom and wickedness in many of life's settings. These comparisons continue into chapter 11.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.