He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
- BSB He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
- NKJV He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
- NASB One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
- NLT A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A gossip betrays confidences, so avoid the company of a chatterer. It matters as a warning to guard against and shun slanderous talk.
Overview
The tale-bearer cannot keep secrets and spreads harm through loose speech (Proverbs 11:13; 26:20). Wisdom counsels keeping distance from such people to avoid being drawn into their sin and harmed by it. The proverb upholds trustworthiness and discretion as marks of godly character.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 11:13A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
- Prov 13:3He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
- Prov 18:8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
- Rom 16:18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
- Lev 19:16Thou 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.
- Prov 24:21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
- Prov 26:20–22Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
- Prov 16:29A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 20:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.