10. A fire burns in proportion to its fuel,and conflict increasesthe longer it continues.The more powerful individuals are,the stronger their anger will be;and the wealthier they are,the more their wrath will increase.
11. A hasty quarrel sparks a fire,and hasty conflict sheds blood.
12. If you blow on a spark, it will flame up,and if you spit on it, it will go out;nonetheless, both come outof your mouth.
13. A curse on slanderers and the deceitful,because they have destroyed manywho are at peace.
14. Slander has shaken up many people,scattered them from nation to nation,demolished mighty cities,and overthrown the housesof dignitaries.
15. Slander has driven outcourageous women,and it has deprived themof the rewards of their work.
16. Those who pay attention to slanderwill never find rest,nor will they live in peace.
17. The blow of a whip leaves a welt,but the blow of the tonguewill break bones.
18. Many have fallen by the edgeof the sword,but many more have fallenbecause of the tongue.
19. Happy is the personwho is protected from the tongue,who hasn’t endured its anger,who hasn’t pulled its yokeor been bound by its shackles.
20. Its yoke is made of iron,and its shackles are made of bronze.
21. The death it inflicts is a wicked death,and the grave is preferable to it.
22. It will never conquer the godly,and they won’t be burned by its flame.
23. Those who abandon the Lord willfall to it;it will burn within them,and it will never go out.It will be sent against them like a lion,and like a leopard it will mangle them.