²⁰ Without wood, fire goes out;
without a gossip, conflict dies down.^(A)
21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,
so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.^(B)
22 A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.^[a](C)

²³ Smooth^[b] lips with an evil heart
are like glaze on an earthen vessel.^(D)
24 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech
and harbors deceit within.
²⁵ When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart.^(E)
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his evil will be revealed in the assembly.