What does Proverbs 26:26 mean?

This passage deals with deceptive people, who disguise their malice using attractive words and appearances (Proverbs 26:23–25). Here, Solomon (Proverbs 25:1) again ties this to the idea of hatred: the person who lies to give a false impression to others is showing hatred for others. Their words only cover that sin, and the cover will not last. Eventually, the liar will be found out (Proverbs 5:22).

The "assembly" in this verse refers to any group brought together for some purpose. In this case, it might mean a courtroom setting, where the guilty person is being judged. Accountability certainly applies to our relationship with God. Galatians 6:7–8 assures us that "God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh [the sin nature] will from the flesh reap corruption." Psalm 7 refers to the retribution God will execute on the wicked as a righteous judge (Psalm 7:11) The same psalm promises, "If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow" (Psalm 7:12). This ends in assurance that the wicked man's "mischief returns upon his own head and on his own skull his violence descends" (Psalm 7:16).