16 There are six things the Lord hates,(A)
    seven that are detestable to him:

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What God Hates

16 Here are six things that the Lord hates—
    seven, in fact,[a] are detestable to him:[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:16 The Heb. lacks in fact
  2. Proverbs 6:16 Lit. to his soul

19         a false witness(A) who pours out lies(B)
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.(C)

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19 a false witness snorting lies,
    and someone sowing quarrels between brothers.

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12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
    but love covers over all wrongs.(A)

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12 Hatred awakens contention,
    but love covers all transgressions.

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With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.(A)

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By what he says, the godless person can destroy his neighbor,
    but through knowledge the righteous escape.

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12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,(A)
    but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.(B)

13 A gossip betrays a confidence,(C)
    but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.(D)

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12 Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
    but the discerning man controls his comments.
13 Whoever spreads gossip betrays secrets,
    but the trustworthy person[a] keeps a confidence.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 11:13 Lit. trustworthy in spirit

27 A scoundrel(A) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.(B)

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(C)
    and a gossip separates close friends.(D)

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27 A worthless person concocts evil gossip[a]
    his lips are like a burning fire.

28 A deceitful man stirs dissension,
    and anyone who gossips separates friends.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 16:27 The Heb. lacks gossip

A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

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Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech,
    and the liar listens to malicious talk.

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Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,(A)
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.(B)

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Anyone who overlooks[a] an offense promotes love,
    but someone who gossips separates close friends.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 17:9 Lit. covers

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(A)

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The words of a gossip are like choice morsels
    as they descend to the innermost parts of the body.

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19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(A)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

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19 Whoever spreads gossip betrays confidences;
    so don’t get involved with someone who talks too much.

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If you take your neighbor to court,
    do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.

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Instead, take up the matter with your neighbor,
    and don’t betray another person’s confidence.
10 Otherwise, anyone who hears will make you ashamed,
    and your bad reputation will never leave you.

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23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

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23 The north wind brings rain,
    and a backbiting tongue an angry look.

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20 Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.(A)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(B)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(C)

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On Gossip and Backbiting

20 Without wood, the fire goes out.
    Without a gossip, contention stops.
21 Charcoal is to hot coals
    as wood is to fire;
        so also a quarrelsome man fuels strife.
22 The words of a gossip are like delicate morsels;
    they sink down deep within.

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