Deceiving (1387) (dolioo from dolos = deceit in turn from délō = bait and metaphorically guile, deceit) means to lure as by baiting a hook by covering it with a small piece of food to disguise its danger. When a fish bites the food, thinking he will get a meal, he instead becomes a meal for the fisherman. The idea then is that these men deal deal treacherously (likely to betray trust, providing insecure footing or support, marked by hidden dangers, hazards, or perils) or use fraud (intentional perversion of truth in order to induce another to part with something of value or to surrender a legal right; fraud usually implies a deliberate perversion of the truth). They deceive by using trickery and falsehood. Man's heart is deceptive, centuries earlier Jeremiah recording that The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick. Who can understand it? (Jer 17:9) The imperfect tense of the verb pictures continual, repetitive deceit. Over and over again they deceive! Unfortunately, we've all experienced the poison of deceit. The imperfect tense also speaks of men persevering in their hypocritical speech. The tongue can be a blessing Or the tongue can be a curse; Say, friend, how are you using yours: For better or for worse? This verse is the only NT use of dolioo while the Septuagint has 4 uses - Num. 25:18; Ps. 5:10; 13:3; 104:25 As William Newell reminds us "This includes your tongue and mine, reader." (Romans 3) For the unregenerate, natural man, lying and other forms of deceit come naturally and are a habitual, normal part of his life. Those little white lies, the way we erect facades, the way we claim to feel one way when we actually feel another; we think all this deceit is harmless and unnoticed. But God sees it. Vance Havner once said "When I was a boy, the old country doctor came lumbering in with his bulging pill‑bag and always began his examination by saying, "Let me see your tongue." It is a good way to begin the examination of any Christian. What we talk about is a good index to our character. Our speech betrays us." THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS: ios aspidon hupo ta cheile auton: (Dt 32:33; Job 20:14, 15, 16) Paul is quoting verbatim from the Septuagint of the last half of the following verse: Ps 140:3 They sharpen their tongues as a serpent. Poison of a viper is under their lips. [Selah].