Proverbs 26:22

The words of a privy backbiter be as simple (or The words of a gossip be tasty); and those come till to the innerest things of the heart.

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

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

In Context

21As dead coals at quick coals, and trees at the fire, [or As dead coals to quick coals, and wood to fire]; so a wrathful man (that) raiseth chidings. (Like dead coals to burning coals, and wood to fire, is an angry person who raiseth up arguments, or strife.)

23As if thou wouldest adorn a vessel of earth, ( that is, a cheap pot made out of clay), with the dross of silver, so be swelling lips fellowshipped with a full wicked heart.

Read all of Proverbs 26

Cross References

Proverbs 18:8The words of a double-tongued man be as simple; and they come unto the inner things of the womb. Dread casteth down a slow man; forsooth the souls of men turned into women’s condition shall have hunger. (A gossip’s words be tasty; and they go down into the innermost parts. Fear casteth down the lazy; and those who be timid shall have hunger.)

Ezekiel 22:9Men backbiters were in thee, to shed out blood, and eat on hills in thee (or and to eat on thy hills); they wrought great trespass in the midst of thee.

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 26:21-23

20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. 22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. Contention is as a fire; it heats the spirit, burns up all that is good, and puts families and societies into a flame. Now here we are told how that fire is commonly kindled and kept burning, that we may avoid the occasions… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Proverbs 26:22