Proverbs 26:20

26:20 Where there is no wood, a fire goes out,

and where there is no gossip, ¹  contention ceases. ² 

Proverbs 26:22

26:22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels;

they go down into a person’s innermost being. ³ 

[26:20]  ¹ sn Gossip (that is, the one who goes around whispering and slandering) fuels contention just as wood fuels a fire. The point of the proverb is to prevent contention – if one takes away the cause, contention will cease (e.g., 18:8).

[26:20]  ² tn Heb “becomes silent.”

[26:22]  ³ tn The proverb is essentially the same as 18:8; it observes how appealing gossip is.