Proverbs 26:20

"For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer contention ceaseth. As coals are to hot embers, and wood is to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife. The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts."

Malicious gossip is the subject here. Many a dangerous quarrel has been fed and encouraged by talebearers and gossips who, as we might say, added fuel to the fire.

Proverbs 26:22 here is identical with Proverbs 18:8. See the comment there.

The last six verses of this chapter are labeled, "Hypocritical Words."[10] All of them deal with false and deceitful speech.