⁸ The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach.

¹⁶ Do not go about saying untrue things among your people, or take away the life of your neighbour by false witness: I am the Lord.

²⁸ A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.

² Purposing destruction, using deceit; your tongue is like a sharp blade.

¹⁸ There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again.

²⁰ Without wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no secret talk, argument is ended.

²¹ Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started.

²² The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, they go down into the inner parts of the stomach.

³ Who make their tongues sharp like a sword, and whose arrows are pointed, even bitter words;

⁴ So that in secret they may let loose their arrows at the upright, suddenly and unseen.