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By what he says, the godless person can destroy his neighbor,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.

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The words of the wicked lead to[a] bloodshed,
    but the speech of the upright delivers them.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 12:6 Lit. wicked lie in wait for

27 A worthless person concocts evil gossip[a]
    his lips are like a burning fire.

28 A deceitful man stirs dissension,
    and anyone who gossips separates friends.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:27 The Heb. lacks gossip

Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker,
    and whoever is happy about disaster
        will not go unpunished.

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Anyone who overlooks[a] an offense promotes love,
    but someone who gossips separates close friends.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:9 Lit. covers

A fool’s words[a] bring strife,
    and his mouth invites fighting.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 18:6 Lit. lips

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels
    as they descend to the innermost parts of the body.

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The Priorities of Life Contrasted

19 A poor man who walks blamelessly is better
than a fool who speaks perversely.

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19 Whoever spreads gossip betrays confidences;
    so don’t get involved with someone who talks too much.

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10 Throw out the mocker and strife departs, too;[a]
    furthermore, quarrels[b] and discord will end.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:10 The Heb. lacks too
  2. Proverbs 22:10 Or litigation

Instead, take up the matter with your neighbor,
    and don’t betray another person’s confidence.
10 Otherwise, anyone who hears will make you ashamed,
    and your bad reputation will never leave you.

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23 The north wind brings rain,
    and a backbiting tongue an angry look.

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On Gossip and Backbiting

20 Without wood, the fire goes out.
    Without a gossip, contention stops.
21 Charcoal is to hot coals
    as wood is to fire;
        so also a quarrelsome man fuels strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like delicate morsels;
    they sink down deep within.
23 A clay vessel plated with a thin veneer of silver—
    that’s what smooth[a] lips with a wicked heart are.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 So LXX; MT reads burning