Proverbs 18:8

The words of a gossip ¹  are like choice morsels; ²  they go down into the person’s innermost being. ³ 

biblegateway Pro 18:8

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.

biblegateway Pro 18:8

The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

biblegateway Pro 18:8

What dainty morsels rumors are––but they sink deep into one’s heart.

biblegateway Pro 18:8

Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly?

SABDAweb Pro 18:8

The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach.

bibleoremus Pro 18:8

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

biblegateway Pro 18:8

The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost body.

biblegateway Pro 18:8

The words of a gossip ¹  are like choice morsels; ²  they go down into the person’s innermost being. ³ 

¹ tn Or “slanderer”; KJV, NAB “talebearer”; ASV, NRSV “whisperer.”

² tn The word כְּמִתְלַהֲמִים (kÿmitlahamim) occurs only here. It is related to a cognate verb meaning “to swallow greedily.” Earlier English versions took it from a Hebrew root הָלַם (halam, see the word לְמַהֲלֻמוֹת [lÿmahalumot] in v. 6) meaning “wounds” (so KJV). But the translation of “choice morsels” fits the idea of gossip better.

³ tn Heb “they go down [into] the innermost parts of the belly”; NASB “of the body.”

³ sn When the choice morsels of gossip are received, they go down like delicious food – into the innermost being. R. N. Whybray says, “There is a flaw in human nature that assures slander will be listened to” (Proverbs [CBC], 105).