²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out;
    and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
²¹ As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
²² The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into the inner parts of the body.
²³ Like the glaze^[a] covering an earthen vessel
    are smooth^[b] lips with an evil heart.
²⁴ He who hates, dissembles with his lips
    and harbors deceit in his heart;
²⁵ when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
    for there are seven abominations in his heart;
²⁶ though his hatred be covered with guile,
    his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and a flattering mouth works ruin.