17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears

is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting

flaming arrows of death

19 is one who deceives their neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;

without a gossip a quarrel dies down.o

21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.p

22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down to the inmost parts.q

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware

are ferventa lips with an evil heart.

24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,r

but in their hearts they harbor deceit.s

25 Though their speech is charming,t do not believe them,

for seven abominations fill their hearts.u

26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,

but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pitv will fall into it;w

if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.x

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,

and a flattering mouthy works ruin.