13 A gossip goes around revealing a secret,
but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.(A)

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13 A gossip walks about telling a secret,
    but the trustworthy in spirit keeps the matter.

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28 A contrary person spreads conflict,
and a gossip separates close friends.(A)

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28 A person of perversity will spread dissent,
    and he who whispers separates a close friend.

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Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,(A)
but whoever gossips about it separates friends.(B)

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He who forgives an affront fosters love,
    but he who waits on a matter will alienate a friend.

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A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 18:8 Lit to the chambers of the belly

The words of a whisper are like delicious morsels,
    and they themselves go down to inner parts of the body.

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19 The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;(A)
avoid someone with a big mouth.(B)

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19 He reveals a secret, he who walks about with gossip,
    and do not associate with a babbler’s lips.

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20 Without wood, fire goes out;
without a gossip, conflict dies down.(A)

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20 For lack of wood, a fire goes out,
    and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.

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22 A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.[a](A)

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Footnotes

  1. 26:22 Lit to the chambers of the belly

22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels,
    and they go down to the inner parts of the body.

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