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 stirs up strife.
A whisperer separates close friends.
9 With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbour,
but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
13 One who brings gossip betrays a confidence,
but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
18 He who hides hatred has lying lips.
He who utters 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 no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right,
and speaks truth in his heart;
3 he who doesn’t slander with his tongue,
nor does evil to his friend,
nor casts slurs against his fellow man;
11 "Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.