¹⁴Slander^* has shaken many,
   and scattered them from nation to nation;
it has destroyed strong cities,
   and overturned the houses of the great.
¹⁵Slander^* has driven virtuous women from their homes,
   and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.
¹⁶Those who pay heed to slander^* will not find rest,
   nor will they settle down in peace.
¹⁷The blow of a whip raises a welt,
   but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.
¹⁸Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,
   but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.
¹⁹Happy is one who is protected from it,
   who has not been exposed to its anger,
who has not borne its yoke,
   and has not been bound with its fetters.
²⁰For its yoke is a yoke of iron,
   and its fetters are fetters of bronze;
²¹its death is an evil death,
   and Hades is preferable to it.
²²It has no power over the godly;
   they will not be burned in its flame.
²³Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power;
   it will burn among them and will not be put out.
It will be sent out against them like a lion;
   like a leopard it will mangle them.
^24aAs you fence in your property with thorns,
^25b   so make a door and a bolt for your mouth.
^24bAs you lock up your silver and gold,
^25a   so make balances and scales for your words.
²⁶Take care not to err with your tongue,^*
   and fall victim to one lying in wait.