17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

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.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,(D)
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.(E)
25 Though their speech is charming,(F) do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.(G)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit(H) will fall into it;(I)
    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.(J)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth(K) works ruin.

27 Do not boast(L) about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.(M)

Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
    an outsider, and not your own lips.(N)

Stone is heavy and sand(O) a burden,
    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
    but who can stand before jealousy?(P)

Better is open rebuke
    than hidden love.

Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
    but an enemy multiplies kisses.(Q)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth

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