Psalms 55:21

In 11 translations

BSB

His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.

KJV

The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

WEB

His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

ASV

His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.

LSV

His mouth has been sweeter than honey, || And his heart [is] war! His words have been softer than oil, || And they [are] drawn [swords].

YLT

Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart [is] war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they [are] drawn [swords].

DBY

Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.

DRC54:22

They are divided by the wrath Of his countenance, and his heart hath drawn near. His words are smoother than oil, and the same are darts.

GNV

The wordes of his mouth were softer then butter, yet warre was in his heart: his words were more gentle then oyle, yet they were swordes.

JPS55:22

Smoother than cream were the speeches of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet were they keen-edged swords.

LXXE54:22

They were scattered at the anger of his countenance, and his heart drew nigh them. His words were smoother than oil, yet are they darts.Compare Heb. and A. V.

Word by word Hebrew · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Original-language editions

WLC55:22

חָלְק֤וּ ׀ מַחְמָאֹ֣ת פִּיו֮ וּֽקֲרָב־לִ֫בּ֥וֹ רַכּ֖וּ דְבָרָ֥יו מִשֶּׁ֗מֶן וְהֵ֣מָּה פְתִחֽוֹת׃KJV:Ps.55.21

LXX-Br54:22

Διεμερίσθησαν ἀπὸ ὀργῆς τοῦ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἤγγισεν ἡ καρδία αὐτοῦ· ἡπαλύνθησαν οἱ λόγοι αὐτοῦ ὑπὲρ ἔλαιον, καὶ αὐτοί εἰσι βολίδες.

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

• Psalms 57:4My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
• Psalms 28:3Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.
• Proverbs 5:3–4Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword.
• Proverbs 26:28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
• Psalms 12:2They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
• Psalms 64:3who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,
• Luke 20:20–21So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor. “Teacher,” they inquired, “we know…
• Proverbs 26:24–26A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart. When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. Though his hatred is concealed by deception,…
• Matthew 26:25Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”
• Psalms 62:4They fully intend to cast him down from his lofty perch; they delight in lies; with their mouths they bless, but inwardly they curse. Selah
• Proverbs 12:18Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
• John 13:2The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.
• Psalms 59:7See what they spew from their mouths— sharp words from their lips: “For who can hear us?”

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).