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With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,
    but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.

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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 about lying in wait for blood,
    but the speech of the upright rescues them.

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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 A worthless man devises mischief.
    His speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up strife.
    A whisperer separates close friends.

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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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Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.
    He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

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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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He who covers an offense promotes love;
    but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

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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 come into strife,
    and his mouth invites beatings.

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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 gossip are like dainty morsels:
    they go down into a person’s innermost parts.

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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 is the poor who walks in his integrity
    than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

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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 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
    therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

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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 the mocker, and strife will go out;
    yes, quarrels and insults will stop.

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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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Debate your case with your neighbor,
    and don’t betray the confidence of another,
10     lest one who hears it put you to shame,
    and your bad reputation never depart.

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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;
    so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.

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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 a fire goes out.
    Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 As coals are to hot embers,
    and wood to fire,
    so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
    they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Like silver dross on an earthen vessel
    are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.

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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