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<\/p>\n
[all passages: RSV]<\/p>\n
*****<\/p>\n
\nOh yeah, gossip
\nGossip, oh yeah<\/div>\n*<\/div>\nRuns thick and fast, no one really sees
\nQuite what bad it can do
\nAs it shapes you into something cold
\nLike an Eskimo igloo<\/div>\n*<\/div>\nIt\u2019s all across our lives
\nLike a weed, it\u2019s spread
\n\u2018Till nothing else has space to grow
\nThe devil\u2019s radio<\/div>\n*<\/div>\n(George Harrison, Devil\u2019s Radio<\/em>, 1987)<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n*****<\/p>\n
Exodus 20:16<\/strong> (RSV) You shall not bear false witness<\/span> against your neighbor. (cf. Dt 5:20; Mt 19:18; Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20)<\/p>\n
Psalm 15:2-3<\/strong> He who walks blamelessly, and does what is right, and speaks truth from his heart; [3] who does not slander<\/span> with his tongue, and does no evil<\/span> to his friend, nor takes up a reproach<\/span> against his neighbor;<\/p>\n
Psalm 31:18<\/strong> Let the lying lips<\/span> be dumb, which speak insolently<\/span> against the righteous in pride<\/span> and contempt.<\/p>\n
Psalm 34:13<\/strong> Keep your tongue from evil<\/span>, and your lips from speaking deceit<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Psalm 39:1<\/strong> . . . I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my<\/span> tongue<\/span>; I will bridle my mouth<\/span>,<\/p>\n
Psalm 50:19<\/strong> You give your mouth free rein for evil<\/span>, and your tongue\u00a0frames deceit<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Psalm 52:2-4<\/strong> you are plotting destruction. Your tongue is like a sharp razor<\/span>, you worker of treachery. [3] You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking the truth<\/span>. [Selah] [4] You love all words that devour, O deceitful tongue<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Psalm 59:12-13<\/strong> For the sin of their mouths<\/span>, the words of their lips, let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies which they utter<\/span>, [13] consume them in wrath, . . .<\/p>\n
Psalm 62:4<\/strong> . . . They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Psalm 101:5<\/strong> Him who slanders<\/span> his neighbor secretly I will destroy. The man of haughty<\/span> looks and arrogant<\/span> heart I will not endure.<\/p>\n
Psalm 109:2<\/strong> For wicked and deceitful mouths<\/span> are opened against me, speaking against me with lying tongues<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Psalm 119:69<\/strong> The godless besmear me with lies<\/span>, . . .<\/p>\n
Psalm 120:2<\/strong> \u201cDeliver me, O LORD, from lying lips<\/span>, from a deceitful tongue<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n
Psalm 140:3<\/strong> They make their tongue sharp as a serpent\u2019s<\/span>, and under their lips is the poison of vipers<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 6:16-19<\/strong> There are six things which the LORD hates, seven which are an abomination to him: [17] haughty<\/span> eyes, a lying tongue<\/span>, and hands that shed innocent blood, [18] a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, [19] a false witness who breathes out lies,<\/span> and a man who sows discord among brothers.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 9:7-8<\/strong> He who corrects a\u00a0scoffer<\/span> gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. [8] Do not reprove a\u00a0scoffer<\/span>, or he will hate you; . . .<\/p>\n
Proverbs 10:6<\/strong> . . . the mouth\u00a0of the wicked conceals violence<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 10:18<\/strong> He who conceals hatred<\/span> has lying lips<\/span>, and he who utters slander<\/span>\u00a0is a fool.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 12:13<\/strong> An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips<\/span>, . . .<\/p>\n
Proverbs 13:3<\/strong> He who guards his mouth<\/span> preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 17:4<\/strong> An evildoer listens to wicked lips<\/span>; and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 18:7<\/strong> A fool\u2019s mouth is his ruin<\/span>, and his lips are a snare to himself<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 19:9<\/strong> A false witness<\/span> will not go unpunished, and he who utters lies<\/span> will perish.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 20:19<\/strong> He who goes about gossiping<\/span> reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 21:23-24<\/strong> He who keeps his mouth and his tongue<\/span> keeps himself out of trouble. [24] \u201cScoffer\u201d<\/span> is the name of the proud, haughty<\/span> man who acts with arrogant pride<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 26:28<\/strong> A lying tongue<\/span> hates its victims, . . .<\/p>\n
Jeremiah 9:5<\/strong> Every one deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies<\/span>; they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent. . . . [8] Their tongue is a deadly arrow<\/span>; it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth each speaks peaceably to his neighbor, but in his heart he plans an ambush for him.<\/p>\n
Jeremiah 18:18<\/strong> . . . Come, let us smite him with the tongue<\/span> . . .\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Micah 6:12<\/strong> . . . your inhabitants speak lies<\/span>, and their tongue is deceitful<\/span> in their mouth.<\/p>\n
Wisdom 1:11<\/strong> Beware then of useless murmuring<\/span>, and keep your tongue from<\/span> slander<\/span>; because no secret word<\/span> is without result, and a lying mouth<\/span> destroys the soul.<\/p>\n
Sirach 5:13-14<\/strong> Glory and dishonor come from speaking<\/span>, and a man\u2019s tongue is his downfall<\/span>. [14] Do not be called a slanderer<\/span>, and do not lie in ambush with your\u00a0tongue<\/span>; for shame comes to the thief, and severe condemnation to the double-tongued<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Sirach 19:6<\/strong> and for one who hates gossip<\/span> evil is lessened.<\/p>\n
Sirach 21:26<\/strong> The mind of fools is in their mouth<\/span>, but the\u00a0mouth\u00a0of wise men is in their mind.<\/p>\n
Sirach 22:22<\/strong> If you have opened your mouth against your friend, do not worry, for reconciliation is possible; but as for reviling, arrogance, disclosure of secrets, or a treacherous blow<\/span> \u2014 in these cases any friend will flee.<\/p>\n
Sirach 22:27<\/strong> O that a guard were set over my mouth, and a seal of prudence upon my lips, that it may keep me from falling, so that my tongue may not destroy me!<\/span><\/p>\n
Sirach 23:8<\/strong> The sinner is overtaken through his lips<\/span>, the reviler<\/span> and the arrogant are tripped by them.<\/p>\n
Sirach 28:16-18<\/strong> Whoever pays heed to slander<\/span> will not find rest, nor will he settle down in peace. [17] The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones<\/span>. [18] Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen because of the\u00a0tongue<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Sirach 51:2<\/strong> or thou hast been my protector and helper and hast delivered my body from destruction and from the snare of a slanderous tongue<\/span>, from lips that utter lies<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Matthew 15:19<\/strong> For out of the heart come evil thoughts<\/span>, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness<\/span>, slander<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Matthew 15:18-19<\/strong> But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart<\/span>, and this defiles a man. [19] For out of the heart come evil thoughts<\/span>, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Mark 7:22<\/strong> coveting<\/span>, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride<\/span>, foolishness.<\/p>\n
Luke 3:14<\/strong> Soldiers also asked him, \u201cAnd we, what shall we do?\u201d And he said to them, \u201cRob no one by violence or by false accusation<\/span>, . . .\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke 6:45<\/strong> . . . the evil man<\/span> out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth\u00a0speaks<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Romans 1:29-30<\/strong> They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness<\/span>, malice. Full of envy<\/span>, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips<\/span>, [30] slanderers<\/span>, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful<\/span>, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,<\/p>\n
Romans 3:13-14<\/strong> \u201cTheir throat is an open grave<\/span>, they use their tongues<\/span> to deceive.\u201d \u201cThe venom of asps is under their lips<\/span>.\u201d [14] \u201cTheir mouth is full of curses and bitterness<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n
1 Corinthians 5:11<\/strong> But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater,\u00a0reviler<\/span>, drunkard, or robber \u2014 not even to eat with such a one.<\/p>\n
1 Corinthians 6:10<\/strong> nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers<\/span>, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.<\/p>\n
2 Corinthians 12:20<\/strong> For I fear that perhaps I may come and find you not what I wish, . . . that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy<\/span>, anger, selfishness, slander<\/span>, gossip<\/span>, conceit<\/span>, and disorder.<\/p>\n
Ephesians 4:29, 31<\/strong> Let no evil talk come out of your mouths<\/span>, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear. . . . [31] Let all bitterness<\/span> and wrath and anger and clamor and slander<\/span> be put away from you, with all malice,<\/p>\n
Colossians 3:8<\/strong> But now put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander<\/span>, and foul talk<\/span> from your mouth.<\/p>\n
1 Timothy 5:13<\/strong> Besides that, they learn to be idlers, gadding about from house to house, and not only idlers but gossips<\/span> and busybodies, saying what they should not.<\/span><\/p>\n
1 Timothy 6:4<\/strong> he is puffed up with conceit<\/span>, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy<\/span>, dissension, slander<\/span>, base suspicions<\/span>,<\/p>\n
Titus 3:2<\/strong> to speak evil of no one<\/span>, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all men.<\/p>\n
James 1:26<\/strong> If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue<\/span> but deceives his heart, this man\u2019s religion is vain<\/span>.<\/p>\n
James 3:5-18<\/strong> So the tongue<\/span> is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! [6] And the tongue is a fire<\/span>. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell<\/span>.\u00a0[7] For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, [8] but no human being can tame the tongue<\/span> \u2014 a restless evil, full of deadly poison<\/span>. [9] With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse<\/span> men, who are made in the likeness of God. [10] From the same mouth come blessing and cursing<\/span>. My brethren, this ought not to be so. [11] Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish? [12] Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. [13]\u00a0Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.\u00a0[14] But if you have bitter jealousy<\/span> and selfish ambition<\/span> in your hearts, do not boast<\/span> and be false to the truth. [15] This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. [16] For where