Avoiding Strife and Gossip

Proverbs 26:17-22

¶ He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

¶ As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

¶ Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.