The mouths of fools are their ruin; they trap themselves with their lips. Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.
Proverbs 18:7-8 (NLT)
Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks sense, but a man with understanding keeps silent. A gossip goes around revealing a secret, but the trustworthy keeps a confidence.
Proverbs 11:12-13 (HCSB)
A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.
Proverbs 16:28 (NLT)
He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with a gossip.
Proverbs 20:19 (NASB)
Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.
As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.
Like a coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit.
Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it; if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Proverbs 26:20-28 (NIV)
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
Romans 1:28-32 (ESV)
For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.
2 Corinthians 12:20 (NLT)
Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
1 Timothy 5:13 (ESV)