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With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors,
    but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

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

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The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,
    but the speech of the upright delivers them.(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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27 Scoundrels concoct evil,
    and their speech is like a scorching fire.(A)
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends.(B)

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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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Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
    those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.(A)

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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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One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
    but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.(A)

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

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A fool’s lips bring strife,
    and a fool’s mouth invites a flogging.

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

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The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into the inner parts of the body.(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

19 Better the poor walking in integrity
    than one perverse of speech who is a fool.(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 A gossip reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with a babbler.(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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10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife goes out;
    quarreling and abuse will cease.(A)

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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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Argue your case with your neighbor directly,
    and do not disclose another’s secret,(A)
10 or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you,
    and your ill repute will have no end.

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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

23 The north wind produces rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.(A)

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

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20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
    and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.(A)
21 As charcoal is to hot embers and wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(B)
22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into the inner parts of the body.(C)
23 Like the glaze[a] covering an earthen vessel
    are smooth[b] lips with an evil heart.

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Footnotes

  1. 26.23 Cn: Heb silver of dross
  2. 26.23 Gk: Heb burning

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