Proverbs 18:8

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.”

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).