18Like a madman shooting

firebrands or deadly arrows

19is a man who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

20Without wood a fire goes out;

without gossip a quarrel dies down.

21As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down to a man’s inmost parts.

23Like a coating of glaze^a over earthenware

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

24A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,

but in his heart he harbors deceit.

25Though his speech is charming, do not believe him,

for seven abominations fill his heart.

26His malice may be concealed by deception,

but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it;

if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.

28A lying tongue hates those it hurts,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.