Proverbs 26:22
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Young's Literal Translation
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
21Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
23Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
Cross References
Proverbs 18:8The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Ezekiel 22:9Men of slander have been in thee to shed blood, And on the mountains they have eaten in thee, Wickedness they have done in thy midst.
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 →