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With their words ungodly people destroy their neighbors.
    But those who do what is right escape because of their knowledge.

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With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(A)

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The words of those who are evil hide and wait to spill people’s blood.
    But the speech of those who are honest saves them from traps like that.

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The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(A)

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27 A worthless person plans to do evil things.
    Their words are like a burning fire.

28 A twisted person stirs up conflict.
    Anyone who talks about others separates close friends.

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27 A scoundrel(A) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.(B)

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(C)
    and a gossip separates close friends.(D)

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Anyone who laughs at those who are poor makes fun of their Maker.
    Anyone who is happy when others suffer will be punished.

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Whoever mocks the poor(A) shows contempt for their Maker;(B)
    whoever gloats over disaster(C) will not go unpunished.(D)

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Whoever wants to show love forgives a wrong.
    But those who talk about it separate close friends.

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Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(A)
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(B)

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What foolish people say leads to arguing.
    They are just asking for a beating.

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The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(A)

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The words of anyone who talks about others are like tasty bites of food.
    They go deep down inside you.

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The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(A)

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19 It is better to be poor and to live without blame
    than to be foolish and to twist words around.

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19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)

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19 A person who talks about others tells secrets.
    So avoid anyone who talks too much.

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19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(A)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

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10 If you drive away those who make fun of others, fighting also goes away.
    Arguing and unkind words will stop.

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10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
    quarrels and insults are ended.(A)

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If you take your neighbor to court,
    don’t tell others any secrets you promised to keep.
10 If you do, someone might hear it and put you to shame.
    And the charge against you will stand.

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If you take your neighbor to court,
    do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.

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23 Like a north wind that brings rain you didn’t expect
    is a crafty tongue that brings looks of shock.

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23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

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20 If you don’t have wood, your fire goes out.
    If you don’t talk about others, arguing dies down.

21 Coal glows, and wood burns.
    And a person who argues stirs up conflict.

22 The words of anyone who talks about others are like tasty bites of food.
    They go deep down inside you.

23 Warm words that come from an evil heart
    are like a shiny coating on a clay pot.

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20 Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.(A)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(B)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(C)

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth