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19 A person who goes around spreading gossip reveals secrets,
so do not associate with anyone whose lips are always open.

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19 He reveals a secret, he who walks about with gossip,
    and do not associate with a babbler’s lips.

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Argue your case with your neighbor,
but do not reveal someone else’s secret.
10 If you do, the person who hears it will shame you,
and your bad reputation will never leave you.

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Argue your argument with your neighbor himself,
    the secret of another do not disclose,
10 lest he who hears shame you
    and your ill repute will not end.

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23 A north wind gives birth to rain,
and a whispering tongue gives birth to angry faces.

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23 The wind of the north produces rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry faces.

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20 When there is no more wood, a fire goes out,
and without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 As charcoal is to hot embers and as wood is to fire,
so a quarrelsome person is to igniting a fight.

22 Words of a gossip are like food that is easy to swallow.
They go down to the depths of one’s heart.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:22 Literally the innermost rooms of the belly

20 For lack of wood, a fire goes out,
    and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.
21 As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire,
    so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels,
    and they go down to the inner parts of the body.

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28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a smooth mouth causes ruin.

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28 A tongue of deceit hates its victim,
    and a flattering mouth makes ruin.

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