He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
He that hideth hatred (with) lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool - rather, as the verses generally are distichs - i:e., composed of two parallel sentences-`He that hideth (i:e., dissembleth) hatred (is) of lying lips;' i:e., he speaks falsely, in order to hide his hatred, and to deceive his neighbour (Proverbs 12:6, and especially Proverbs 26:24, "He that hateth dissembleth with his lips;" Leviticus 19:17) The slanderer is "a fool," wise as he thinks himself, because he has no control over his evil-speaking tongue, which shall at last cause his perdition. The antithetical contrast is between him that "hideth hatred" and him that "uttereth a slander;" also between him that is of "lying lips" and a "fool." Two faults are here censured, seemingly opposite, but in reality often connected; because hatred is hidden in order that it may break out in slander. It is an abuse of the tongue when one either flatters, while he 'hides hatred' within, or "slanders," with hatred breaking forth.