July 10, 2026 Friday Proverbs 10:18 "He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool." This verse targets the discrepancy between what is happening inside someone's heart and what comes out of their mouth. Solomon splits this brand of foolishness into two specific behaviors, which often act as two sides of the same coin. 1. The Mask: "He that hideth hatred with lying lips..." The first part of the verse addresses hypocrisy. The Action: This is the person who harbors deep resentment, envy, or malice toward someone, yet smiles to their face, pays them empty compliments, or pretends to be their friend. Insight; The Bible calls these "lying lips" because the outward kind words are a deliberate cover-up for an inward poison. It reminds us that politeness without genuine love is just a form of deception. 2. The Weapon: "...and he that uttereth a slander..." The second part addresses reputation destruction. The Action: "Uttering a slander" means spreading false reports, malicious gossip, or twisted truths behind someone's back to make them look bad. Insight: When someone bottles up hatred (the first half of the verse), that pressure eventually has to go somewhere. Usually, it leaks out when the target isn't around, morphing into gossip and slander. Why does God call this person a "Fool"? In the Book of Proverbs, a "fool" isn't someone who lacks IQ; it's someone who lacks moral and spiritual sanity. Solomon labels this person a fool for a few practical reasons: It is self-destructive: The slanderer thinks they are destroying their enemy, but they are actually destroying their own character. The truth always leaks: You cannot sustainably fake love. Eventually, the mask slips, the gossip gets back to the person, and the liar's reputation is ruined. Everyone else also realizes, "If they talk about him like that when he leaves, they probably talk about me the same way." It avoids the cure: Festering hatred eats away at the container it’s held in. Instead of bringing the offense into the light, praying through it, or seeking reconciliation, the fool chooses to live a double life of fake smiles and quiet sabotage. Takeaway; This proverb is a call to radical transparency and emotional health. If there is friction or dislike in our hearts toward someone, the wise response isn't to paste on a fake smile or text a mutual friend to vent; it’s to deal with the root of that hatred before God, choosing forgiveness over deceit.