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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 their words, the godless destroy their friends,
    but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

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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 like a murderous ambush,
    but the words of the godly save lives.

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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 Scoundrels create trouble;
    their words are a destructive blaze.

28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
    gossip separates the best of friends.

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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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Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
    those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.

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

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Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,
    but dwelling on it separates close friends.

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A fool’s lips come into strife,
    and his mouth invites beatings.

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Fools’ words get them into constant quarrels;
    they are asking for a beating.

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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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Rumors are dainty morsels
    that sink deep into one’s heart.

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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 to be poor and honest
    than to be dishonest and 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 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
    so don’t hang around with chatterers.

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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 Throw out the mocker, and fighting goes, too.
    Quarrels and insults will disappear.

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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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When arguing with your neighbor,
    don’t betray another person’s secret.
10 Others may accuse you of gossip,
    and you will never regain your good reputation.

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23 The north wind produces rain;
    so a backbiting tongue brings an angry face.

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23 As surely as a north wind brings rain,
    so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

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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 Fire goes out without wood,
    and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

21 A quarrelsome person starts fights
    as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

22 Rumors are dainty morsels
    that sink deep into one’s heart.

23 Smooth[a] words may hide a wicked heart,
    just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.

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Footnotes

  1. 26:23 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads Burning.