“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down to the chambers of the belly” (Prov. 18:8).
Even if such words spoken are all true (which is rarely the case), they are in every respect injurious and fall under the censure of evil speaking. They lack a moral object or a loving way (see Philippians 4:8) and thus are, at best, gossip. For the most part, it is the mere indulgence of talking of things which right feeling would conceal. Such speaking inflicts wounds which pierce very deep and where they are least curable. “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city” (Prov. 18:19).
W. Kelly (adapted)