With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(A)

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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 lie in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.(A)

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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 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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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(A) shows contempt for their Maker;(B)
    whoever gloats over disaster(C) will not go unpunished.(D)

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

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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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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

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

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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;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(A)

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

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19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)

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

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

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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

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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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 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

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

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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

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