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21 As charcoal fuels burning coals and wood fuels fire,
    so a quarrelsome person fuels a dispute.
22 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily,
    and they go down into a person’s innermost being.

23 Like a clay pot covered with cheap silver,
    so is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.

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21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(A)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(B)

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth