A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends (Prov

"A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends" (Prov. 16:28). "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: ... A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (Prov. 6:19). "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour" (Lev. 19:16). "A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter" (Prov. 11:13). "He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips" (Prov. 20:19). "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out : so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth" (Prov. 26:20). "He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool" (Prov. 10:18). "Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant , and every neighbour will walk with slanders" (Jer. 9:4). "Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not" (I Tim. 5:13). "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Mat. 12:36,37). "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile" (I Pet. 3:10).

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell... Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be" (Jas. 3:6,9,10). "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge" (Jas. 4:11). "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates , to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men" (Tit. 3:1,2). "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice" (Eph. 4:31). I believe that these very plain passages of scripture are sufficient to address a common ill among God's people, but I have saved the best, and most sobering for last: "Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son. These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver" (Psm. 50:19:22). Need I say more? Amen.