Proverbs 26:24

He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;

– Proverbs 26:24

Hatred is often the mark of an enemy. At least, it refers to one with ill intentions, or malicious designs. The word for dissembleth means to recognize. The English word means a false appearance. The malicious man disguises his evil intentions with the words of his mouth (Proverbs 12:5, 17, 20).

 


 

 

Proverbs 15:17

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
– Proverbs 15:17

This proverb also deals with wealth, though indirectly. Wealth is not the focus, rather the contrast of love and hatred. To have love is to have good relationships with family and even friends. It is to have a home of peace and contentment. The dinner of herbs is a modest meal as opposed to the stalled ox, which is an indication of means. Love is absent where hatred is present and it brings strife and contention to a house. Obviously, the first condition is better than the second with a house of strife, anger, and contentions (Proverbs 17:1; 21:19).

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Proverbs 10:18

He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
– Proverbs 10:18

Hatred can be hidden by flattery, inappropriate silence, or outright lies (Proverbs 26:24-25). Uttering a slander gives vent to the hatred rather than hiding it. Both are damaging and indicative of a fool (Proverbs 16:28).

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Proverbs 10:12

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
– Proverbs 10:12

The word for stirreth up means literally to awaken as out of sleep. Strifes are contentions, quarrels, or discords of all kinds. The stirring and spreading of contentions comes from hatred. Other proverbs expose the stirring of strife as coming from wrath, ungodliness, pride, and anger (Proverbs 15:18; 16:27; 28:25; 29:22). A hateful heart captures all those ideas.

The contrast comes in the form of action motivated by love. The word for covereth means to conceal or hide. It can be used to speak of covering the body with clothing. Covering obviously doesn’t mean sweeping sin under the rug and acting as though it doesn’t exist (Proverbs 28:13). We understand what is meant by observing the parallelism in the proverb. It is opposite of stirring up contentions and strife. It is the wisdom that defers anger and passes over transgressions (Proverbs 19:11). Often, there isn’t a problem between people until we make one and that is what hatred does. Love covers shame, appeases strife, and ceases from it (Proverbs 12:16; 15:18; 20:3).

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