Psalm 55:21 “His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are…”

Psalm 55:21

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

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

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

American Standard Version

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

Geneva Bible 1599

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.

Darby Translation

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

Young's Literal Translation

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

Bible in Basic English

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

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Cross references

“The words”

Psalm 57:4 Psalm 28:3 Proverbs 26:28 Psalm 64:3 Proverbs 26:24–26 Psalm 62:4

Psalm 57:4 · BSB

My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

Psalm 28:3 · BSB

Do 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 26:28 · BSB

A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

Psalm 64:3 · BSB

who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,

Proverbs 26:24–26 · BSB

A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.

Psalm 62:4 · BSB

They fully intend to cast him down from his lofty perch; they delight in lies; with their mouths they bless, but inwardly they curse. Selah

“war”

John 13:2

John 13:2 · BSB

The evening meal was underway, and the devil had already put into the heart of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus.

Also

Psalm 12:2 Psalm 59:7

Psalm 12:2 · BSB

They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.

Psalm 59:7 · BSB

See what they spew from their mouths— sharp words from their lips: “For who can hear us?”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

22Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Read Psalm 55