Avoiding Strife and Gossip

Proverbs 26:17-22

Laying hold on the ears of a dog, Is a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.

As one pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,

So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, `Am not I playing?'

Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,

Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.

The words of a tale-bearer are as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down to the inner parts of the heart.