He who hates disguises it with his lips,
but he lays up deceit in his heart.

Proverbs 26:24

My biggest takeaway from this verse? We can deceive others and we can even try to deceive ourselves, but we cannot deceive our own heart; our soul…our deepest self!

Here, in this verse, is a person (male or female) who hates. The Hebrew word here is a verb that means ‘to hate’ and ‘to be hateful’ and carries the intention of the person described in this verse. This hate tangles every thought in this person’s mind. This hate actively permeates every word, every action and every reaction. 

This person is also cunning. They know that they can’t just go around spreading all their hate-filled words and actions. That would be disastrous for the evil ends they desire. So, they disguise their hate with words that do not appear hateful. Proverbs has many examples of this. Here are just a few…

Proverbs 5:3-4

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

Proverbs 10:18

He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool.

Proverbs 12:19-20

Truthful lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only for a moment. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy.

The astonishing and yet expected result of this person, is that they will, in the end, layup that hate and deceit in their own heart! Brick by brick and layer by layer that hate they have tried to hide from the world and to hide even from themselves, will take over their heart. This hate will take up residence in their emotions, their mind, their soul! At this point, God may, as He did with generations of Israel give them up to their own deceitful hearts.

Psalm 81:12

But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So, I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust and they walked in their own counsels.

That, my dear readers, That is not a good place to be! Rather we need to make sure our lips share truth and love to that comes from a pure heart (Read Day 22) to all those around us. Then we will…

Psalm 24:3-4

Who may ascend onto the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? One who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to deceit and has not sworn deceitfully.