²⁰ You sit and speak against your brother;
    you slander your own mother's son.

¹⁸ The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
    and whoever utters slander is a fool.

^28 (A)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and ^(B)a whisperer ^(C)separates close friends.

¹⁹ Whoever ^(A)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with ^(B)a simple babbler.^[a]

²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out,
    and where there is no ^(A)whisperer, ^(B)quarreling ceases.