With his mouth the ungodly destroys his neighbor,
but through knowledge the righteous are rescued.

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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 the wicked are a deadly ambush,(A)
but the speech of the upright rescues them.(B)

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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 digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.(A)

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

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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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The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker,(A)
and one who rejoices over calamity
will not go unpunished.(B)

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

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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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A fool’s lips lead to strife,
and his mouth provokes a beating.(A)

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

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

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19 Better a poor person who lives with integrity(A)
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

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

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

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10 Drive out a mocker,(A) and conflict goes too;
then quarreling and dishonor will cease.(B)

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

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Make your case with your opponent
without revealing another’s secret;(A)
10 otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you,
and you’ll never live it down.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 25:10 Lit and your evil report will not turn back

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 The north wind produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

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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 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 person 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)

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Footnotes

  1. 26:22 Lit to the chambers of the belly
  2. 26:23 LXX; MT reads Burning

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