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19 Gossips ·can’t keep [reveal] secrets,
so avoid people who ·talk too much [L are foolish with their lips].

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19 
He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with a gossip [who talks freely or flatters].(A)

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·If you have an argument with [L Make your accusations against] your neighbor,
    ·don’t tell other people what was said [keep it a secret from others].
10 Whoever hears it might shame you,
    and ·you might not ever be respected again [L the slander against you will never stop].

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Argue your case with your neighbor himself [before you go to court];
And do not reveal another’s secret,(A)
10 
Or he who hears it will shame you
And the rumor about you [and your action in court] will have no end.

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23 As the north wind brings rain,
·telling gossip [L a hidden tongue] brings angry looks.

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23 
The north wind brings forth rain;
And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

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20 Without wood, a fire ·will go out [is extinguished],
and without gossip, ·quarreling will stop [conflict calms down].

21 Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going,
a quarrelsome person ·keeps an argument going [kindles accusations].

22 The words of a gossip are like ·tasty bits of food [choice morsels];
·people like to gobble them up [L they go down to the inmost parts].

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20 
For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer [who gossips], contention quiets down.
21 
Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.(A)
22 
The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];
They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].(B)

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28 ·Liars [L Lying tongues] hate the people they ·hurt [crush],
and ·false praise [L a flattering tongue] can ruin others.

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28 
A lying tongue hates those it wounds and crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.

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