Psalms 55:21

Words and speech Truth and honesty

¹⁹ God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

²⁰ He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

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.

²² Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

²³ But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

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.
DARBY: Smooth were the milky [words] of his mouth, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.
BLB: His mouth has been smoother than butter, and war [is] in his heart; his words have been softer than oil, and they [are] drawn swords.

ÅB: Hans munns ord er glatte som smør, men hans hjertes tanke er strid; hans ord er bløtere enn olje, og dog er de dragne sverd.
OTB: Hans ord var glattere enn smør,
Men hans hjerte var satt på krig;
Hans ord var mykere enn olje,
Men de var dragne sverd.
B1930: Hans munns ord er glatte som smør, men hans hjertes tanke er strid; hans ord er bløtere enn olje, og dog er de dragne sverd.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 57:4
My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Read in context
Proverbs 5:3–4
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
Read in context
Psalms 28:3
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
Read in context
Proverbs 26:28
A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Read in context
Psalms 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Read in context
Proverbs 26:24–26
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Read in context
Psalms 64:3
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
Read in context
Luke 20:20–21
And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
Read in context