⁸ The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: They go down into a person's innermost parts.

¹⁶ "'You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people; neither shall you stand against the life{literally, "blood"} of your neighbor. I am Yahweh.

²⁸ A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.

² Your tongue plots destruction, Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

¹⁸ There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, But the tongue of the wise heals.

²⁰ For lack of wood a fire goes out; Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.

²¹ As coals are to hot embers, And wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindling strife.

²² The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, They go down into the innermost parts.

³ Who sharpen their tongue like a sword, And aim their arrows, deadly words,

⁴ To shoot innocent men from ambushes. They shoot at him suddenly and fearlessly.