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

2 Samuel 20:9,10
And Joab said to Amasa,Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him…

Ezekiel 33:31
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before theeas my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love,but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

are burning lips
"Burning lips" refers to speech that is fervent, passionate, or persuasive, yet potentially harmful. In the cultural context of the Bible, speech was a powerful tool, capable of both blessing and cursing. Proverbs frequently warns against deceitful and harmful speech (Proverbs 10:18, 12:22). The "burning" aspect suggests intensity, which can be alluring but also destructive, much like fire. This aligns withJames 3:6, where the tongue is described as a fire, capable of setting the course of life ablaze. The warning here is against being swayed by eloquent but deceitful words.

and a wicked heart
The heart, in biblical terms, represents the center of one's being, encompassing thoughts, emotions, and will. A "wicked heart" indicates a deep-seated moral corruption.Jeremiah 17:9 describes the heart as deceitful and desperately wicked, highlighting humanity's fallen nature. The connection between speech and heart is significant; Jesus teaches inLuke 6:45 that "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Thus, burning lips are a reflection of the wickedness within. This phrase serves as a caution to discern the true nature of individuals, recognizing that outward expressions often reveal inner realities.

• Picture a clay jar, cheaply made, porous and easily cracked. A thin coat of glaze hardens on the surface and shines in the sun, but it does nothing to change the substance underneath. That is exactly the point Solomon makes: an attractive finish can hide a fragile, even worthless, core.

• Scripture often warns about the danger of judging by appearances. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for being “like whitewashed tombs” that “outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men’s bones” (Matthew 23:27). Paul describes people “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). The external gloss never alters the true nature beneath it.

• The literal image of glaze on clay highlights the ease with which evil can disguise itself. Like that shiny coating, hypocrisy can seem harmless—yet once the jar is tested, the hidden weakness is exposed (Proverbs 11:3;Isaiah 29:13).

• “Burning lips” suggests intense, fiery speech—words that glow with passion, flattery, or anger. The tongue itself “is a fire” that can set “the course of one’s life on fire” (James 3:6).

• Such lips may sound persuasive, even spiritual, but they injure rather than heal. “An ungodly man digs up evil, and on his lips is a burning fire” (Proverbs 16:27). David experienced this when an enemy’s “words were smoother than oil, yet they were drawn swords” (Psalm 55:21).

• The glaze-and-clay comparison reminds us that speech can mask reality. Words can sparkle like glass, hiding motives that are anything but transparent (Proverbs 26:24–25).

• Scripture links speech and heart inseparably: “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). Burning lips are merely the overflow of what lies within.

• A “wicked heart” is deceitful and sick (Jeremiah 17:9). It plots evil (Proverbs 6:18) and, when joined to fiery words, multiplies damage.

• God’s solution is never a better glaze but a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). Only when the inside is changed does the outside cease to deceive.

Proverbs 26:23 paints a vivid warning: dazzling speech can hide destructive intent. Just as a glossy glaze hides the fragility of an earthen pot, burning lips conceal a wicked heart. Scripture urges us to look past appearances, discern the source of words, and remember that only a transformed heart can produce speech that honors God.

A potsherd covered with silver dross.--Pottery glazed with dross of silver, a well-known method of ornamentation. For similar proverbs, comp.Matthew 23:27;Luke 11:39.