19 One who (A)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with [a](B)a gossip.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips

19 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
    so don’t hang around with chatterers.

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[a](A)Argue your case with your neighbor,
And (B)do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Or one who hears it will put you to shame,
And the evil report about you will not [b]pass away.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:9 Lit Contend
  2. Proverbs 25:10 Lit return

When arguing with your neighbor,
    don’t betray another person’s secret.
10 Others may accuse you of gossip,
    and you will never regain your good reputation.

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23 The north wind brings rain,
And a [a](A)gossiping tongue brings an angry face.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:23 Lit tongue of secrecy

23 As surely as a north wind brings rain,
    so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

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20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no (A)gossiper, (B)quarreling quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a (C)contentious person to kindle strife.
22 The (D)words of a gossiper are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [a]innermost parts of the body.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:22 Lit chambers of the belly

20 Fire goes out without wood,
    and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

21 A quarrelsome person starts fights
    as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

22 Rumors are dainty morsels
    that sink deep into one’s heart.

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28 A lying tongue hates [a]those it crushes,
And a (A)flattering mouth works ruin.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:28 Lit its crushed ones

28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and flattering words cause ruin.

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