Amsal 5:2

5:2 in order to safeguard ¹  discretion, ² 

and that your lips may guard knowledge.

Amsal 25:10

25:10 lest the one who hears it put you to shame

and your infamy ³  will never go away.

Amsal 26:20

26:20 Where there is no wood, a fire goes out,

and where there is no gossip, ⁴  contention ceases. ⁵ 

[5:2]  ¹ tn Heb “keep, protect, guard.”

[5:2]  ² sn This “discretion” is the same word in 1:4; it is wise, prudential consideration, careful planning, or the ability to devise plans with a view to the best way to carry them out. If that ability is retained then temptations to digress will not interfere.

[25:10]  ³ tn The noun דִּבָּה (dibbah, “infamy; defamation; evil report; whispering”) is used of an evil report here (e.g., Gen 37:2), namely a true report of evil doing. So if a person betrays another person’s confidence, he will never be able to live down the bad reputation he made as one who betrays secrets (cf. NIV).

[26:20]  ⁴ sn Gossip (that is, the one who goes around whispering and slandering) fuels contention just as wood fuels a fire. The point of the proverb is to prevent contention – if one takes away the cause, contention will cease (e.g., 18:8).

[26:20]  ⁵ tn Heb “becomes silent.”