Written by Daniel Isaiah Joseph
in Bible verses Last Updated July 27, 2023
Proverbs 16:28
ESV | A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. |
KJV | A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. |
NASB | A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends. |
NIV | A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends. |
NLT | A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. |
Proverbs 20:19
ESV | Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. |
KJV | He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. |
NASB | He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip. |
NIV | A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much. |
NLT | A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers. |
Also see Bible Verses About Lies to learn more.
Ephesians 4:29
ESV | Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. |
KJV | Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. |
NASB | Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. |
NIV | Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. |
NLT | Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. |
Proverbs 11:13
ESV | Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. |
KJV | A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. |
NASB | He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is trustworthy conceals a matter. |
NIV | A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. |
NLT | A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. |
Also see Bible Verses About Unity to learn more.
Proverbs 26:20
ESV | For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. |
KJV | Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. |
NASB | For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. |
NIV | Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. |
NLT | Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. |
Leviticus 19:16
ESV | You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. |
KJV | Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD. |
NASB | ‘You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD. |
NIV | “’Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “’Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD. |
NLT | “Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. “Do not stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is threatened. I am the LORD. |
Also see Bible Verses About the Future to learn more.
Proverbs 18:8
ESV | The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. |
KJV | The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. |
NASB | The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. |
NIV | The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts. |
NLT | Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart. |
1 Timothy 5:13
ESV | Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. |
KJV | And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. |
NASB | At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. |
NIV | Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. |
NLT | And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t. |
Also see Bible Verses About Jealousy to learn more.
2 Corinthians 12:20
ESV | For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. |
KJV | For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: |
NASB | For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances; |
NIV | For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. |
NLT | For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. |
Psalm 34:13
ESV | Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. |
KJV | Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. |
NASB | Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. |
NIV | keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. |
NLT | Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! |
James 1:26
ESV | If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. |
KJV | If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. |
NASB | If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. |
NIV | Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. |
NLT | If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. |
Proverbs 10:18
ESV | The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. |
KJV | He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. |
NASB | He who conceals hatred has lying lips, And he who spreads slander is a fool. |
NIV | Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool. |
NLT | Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool. |
Daniel Isaiah Joseph
Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. He was a pastor for 10 years. As a professor, he has taught Bible and theology courses at two Christian universities. Please see his About page for details.
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