Proverbs 26:22
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The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
22 The words of the tale-bearer are like dainty morsels; And they glide down into the innermost parts. A repetition of Pro 18:8.
Open source ↗Note, 1. It is too common a thing for honour to be given to fools, who are utterly unworthy of it and unfit for it. Bad men, who have neither wit nor grace, are sometimes preferred by princes, and applauded and cried up by the people. Folly is set in great dignity, as Solomon observed, Ecc 10:6. 2. It is very absurd and unbecoming when it is so. It is an incongruous as snow in summer, and as great a disorder in the commonwealth as that is in the course of nature and in the seasons of the year; nay, it is as injurious as rain in harvest, which hinders the labourers and spoils the fruits of the earth when they are ready to be gathered. When bad men are in power they commonly abuse their power, in discouraging virtue, and giving countenance to wickedness, for want of wisdom to discern it and grace to detest it.
Open source ↗26:22 This proverb repeats 18:8.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency.
He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.