Psalms 55:21
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.”
A short, plain-language explanation of Psalms 55:21 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
“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 · Public Domain (CC0)“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.”
King James Version · Public Domain“His mouth was smooth as butter, But his heart was war: His words were softer than oil, Yet were they drawn swords.”
American Standard Version · Public Domain“Sweeter than honey hath been his mouth, And his heart <FI>is<Fi> war! Softer have been his words than oil, And they <FI>are<Fi> drawn <FI>swords<Fi> .”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Psalms 55:21 — 17 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Samuel 18:22Then Saul ordered his servants, “Speak to David privately and tell him, ‘Behold, the king is pleased with you, and all his servants love you. Now therefore, become his son-in-law.’”
- 2 Samuel 16:19Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.”
- Job 41:3Will he beg you for mercy or speak to you softly?
- Psalms 12:2They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
- 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.
- 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 59:7See what they spew from their mouths— sharp words from their lips: “For who can hear us?”
- 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
- Psalms 64:3who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows,
- Proverbs 5:3Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil,
- Proverbs 12:18Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
- Proverbs 26:24A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
- Proverbs 26:26Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
- Proverbs 26:28A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
- Matthew 26:25Then Judas, who would betray Him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said it yourself.”
- Luke 20:20So 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.
- 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.
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).