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, sendeth forth strife, and, a tattler, separateth intimate friends.
9 With the mouth, a profane man destroyeth his neighbour, but, through knowledge, shall righteous men be delivered.
13 He that goeth about talebearing, revealeth a secret, but, he that is faithful in spirit, concealeth a matter.
18 He that concealeth hatred, hath false lips, and he that sendeth forth slander, the same, is a dullard.
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, no putrid discourse, out of your mouth, be going forth, but if anything is goodsuited to the needful upbuilding,that it may give benefit unto them that hear;
2 He that walketh without blame, and doeth what is right, and speaketh truth with his heart;3 Hath not carried slander on his tongue, hath not done his friend a wrong, nor, a reproach, taken up against his neighbour;
11 Happy, are ye, whensoever they may reproach you and persecute you, and say every evil thing against you, falsely, for my sake: