18. Like a madman who casts firebrands, arrows, and death,
19. So is the man who deceives his neighbor and then says, Was I not joking? [Eph. 5:4.]
20. For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.
21. As coals are to hot embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man to inflame strife. [Prov. 15:18; 29:22.]
22. The words of a whisperer or slanderer are like dainty morsels or words of sport [to some, but to others are like deadly wounds]; and they go down into the innermost parts of the body [or of the victim's nature].
23. Burning lips [uttering insincere words of love] and a wicked heart are like an earthen vessel covered with the scum thrown off from molten silver [making it appear to be solid silver].
24. He who hates pretends with his lips, but stores up deceit within himself.