16 Anyone who pays attention to slander can never find peace of mind.
17 A whip can raise a welt, but a vicious tongue can break bones.
18 More people have died as a result of loose talk than were ever killed by swords.
19-20 Count yourself lucky if you have been spared the experience of having irresponsible talk directed against you — if you have never had that iron yoke round your neck or those heavy chains on your legs.
21 Slander leads to a miserable death; but in fact, you'd be better off dead.
22 Devout people, however, cannot be overcome by slander; they cannot be burnt by its flames.
23 Its victims are those who have abandoned the Lord; once the fire of slander has been lit among them, it cannot be put out. Slander will pounce on them like a lion and tear them to pieces like a leopard.