Don’t Open Wide

(Pro 20:19 KJV)  He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

A literal understanding gives some insight into the “gossip” (6601a/8193) of the NASB.  It is really two words.  One means lips and the other means open.  Thus you have the marginal reading in the NASB of “One who opens his lips.”  I am not old enough to remember but I have heard that one of the slogans of the world wars was “loose lips sink ships.”  I think that is the picture here.

It is so easy to speak when I shouldn’t.  It is so hard to be silent.  It doesn’t relate to gossip but I am sure you have noticed in conversations how often people don’t listen to each other because they are waiting their turn to talk.

So?  The less said the better.  Usually that is good advice.  Words not said do not need to be recalled.