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

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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,
    but the speech of the upright delivers them.(A)

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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 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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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 are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.(A)

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

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

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

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

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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 the poor walking in integrity
    than one perverse of speech who is a fool.(A)

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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 reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with a babbler.(A)

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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 scoffer, and strife goes out;
    quarreling and abuse will cease.(A)

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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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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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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.(A)

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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 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