Proverbs 18:6-8 (ESV)
6 A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.
7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
The fool’s thoughtless speech incites conflict. She carelessly blurts out whatever she feels like saying, justifying herself when others respond with hurt or anger. “Why shouldn’t I say whatever I want?” she reasons, and soon a fight breaks out. Her words become a trap, but in the end, she is the one ensnared as she suffers the consequences of her impulsive and inconsiderate speech. And worse than the words of a fool are those of a gossip. The gossip ruins the reputation of others, even damaging relationships between friends. The tidbits of information the gossip “quietly” provides are hard to resist, enticing others to listen. But once heard, they permanently damage both the hearer and the victim. It’s not easy to walk away from the lure of gossip, but it’s the right thing to do. Once you have heard a slanderous report about another, put an end to the damage by not repeating the news.