¹⁹ Gossips ·can’t keep [reveal] secrets,
so avoid people who ·talk too much [^Lare foolish with their lips].

⁹ ·If you have an argument with [^LMake your accusations against] your neighbor,
    ·don’t tell other people what was said [keep it a secret from others].
¹⁰ Whoever hears it might shame you,
    and ·you might not ever be respected again [^Lthe slander against you will never stop].

²³ As the north wind brings rain,
·telling gossip [^La hidden tongue] brings angry looks.

²⁰ Without wood, a fire ·will go out [is extinguished],
and without gossip, ·quarreling will stop [conflict calms down].

²¹ Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going,
a quarrelsome person ·keeps an argument going [kindles accusations].

²² The words of a gossip are like ·tasty bits of food [choice morsels];
·people like to gobble them up [^Lthey go down to the inmost parts].

²⁸ ·Liars [^LLying tongues] hate the people they ·hurt [crush],
and ·false praise [^La flattering tongue] can ruin others.