“Verba bilinguis quasi simplicia, et ipsa perveniunt usque ad interiora ventris. Pigrum dejicit timor ; animæ autem effeminatorum esurient.”
“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. talebearer: or, whisperer as wounds: or, like as when men are wounded most: Heb. chambers”
“The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.”
“The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.”
“The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.”
Tongued. Hebrew, “calumniator.” He pretends to wish well to those of whom he speaks, or else to guard the company against deceit. (Calmet) — “If the devil be upon the detractor’s tongue, he is in the ears of those who pay attention to him.” (St. Francis de Sales) — Fear, &c., is in the Septuagint, above. The Vulgate retains both this and the new version of St. Jerome.
The similitudes here seem to be elegantly transposed. 1. The well-spring of wisdom is as deep waters. An intelligent knowing man has in him a good treasure of useful things, which furnishes him with something to say upon all occasions that is pertinent and profitable. This is as deep waters, which make no noise, but never run dry. 2. The words of such a man's mouth are as a flowing brook. What he sees cause to speak flows naturally from him and with a great deal of ease, and freedom, and natural fluency; it is clean and fresh, it is cleansing and refreshing; from his deep waters there flows what there is occasion for, to water those about him, as the brooks do the low grounds.