Fofoca
A fofoca destrói reputações e relacionamentos. A Bíblia condena severamente o murmúrio, a calúnia e a palavra maldosa, chamando o cristão a edificar com a boca.
O poder destrutivo
O homem perverso semeia contendas, e o que anda com fofocas separa amigos íntimos. A fofoca é veneno social.
28 A perverse man causes fighting, and a whisperer separates chief friends.
9 A hypocrite corrupts [his] neighbor with [his] mouth; but through knowledge the just shall be delivered.
13 One going with slander is a revealer of secrets, but the faithful of spirit keeps the matter hidden.
18 He who hides hatred [with] lying lips, and he who speaks a slander, [is] a fool.
Edificar com palavras
Não saia da boca nenhuma palavra torpe, mas só a que serve para edificação. Quem fala mal do irmão fala mal da lei.
29 Let not any filthy word go out of your mouth, but if any [is] good to building up [in respect of] need, that it may give grace to the ones hearing.
2 He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart;3 [he] does not backbite with his tongue, nor do evil to his neighbor, nor take up a reproach against his neighbor;
11 Blessed are you when [men] shall revile you and persecute [you], and shall say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for My sake.