17  Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own

is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

18  Like a madman who throws ofirebrands, arrows, and death

19  is the man who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I am only joking!”

20  For lack of wood the fire goes out,

and where there is no pwhisperer, qquarreling ceases.

21  As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

so is ra quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22  sThe words of pa whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23  tLike the uglaze2 covering an earthen vessel

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

24  Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips

and harbors deceit in his heart;

25  vwhen he speaks graciously, believe him not,

for there are wseven abominations in his heart;

26  though his hatred be covered with deception,

his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27  xWhoever digs a pit will fall into it,

and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

28  A lying tongue hates its victims,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.