What does the bible say about gossip?

It's not big on gossip. Proverbs 16:28 says, "A dishonest man spreads strife,and a whisperer separates close friends..." and that's only one example among many.

Of course, that's never stopped anyone from gossiping and back-biting, and In Ogden 22:14 we read, "Fear not the back-biter for the back-biter bites thee only behind thy back. Fear rather the front-biter for he will back-bite thee to thy face."

Gossip is idle personal talk, groundless rumor.  Not all gossip is bad  or damaging, though it can be,  The danger of loose, idle talk is emphasize many times in the Bible. At Proverbs 15:2 , "The tongue of the wise makes good use of knowledge, But the mouth of the stupid blurts out foolishness ."  Proverbs 13:3 ," The one guarding his mouth protects his life, But the one opening his lips wide will come to ruin."  Proverbs 21:23,  " The one guarding his mouth and his tongue  Keeps himself out of trouble." 

The Bible says that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21) Yes, our words can be like tools for building or like weapons for destroying. Sad to say, many today use their tongue for the latter purpose. (harmful gossip) They are like some described by the psalmist David who have “sharpened their tongue just like a sword, who have aimed their arrow, bitter speech, to shoot from concealed places at someone blameless.” (Psalm 64:2-4) Those who want to please God should not spread untrue reports, for the Bible states that “false lips are something detestable to Jehovah.” (Proverbs 12:22) Deliberately starting or passing on a rumor that you know is untrue is lying, and the Bible says that Christians are to “put away falsehood” and to “speak truth each one . . . With his neighbor.” (Ephesians 4:25)

Which one? There are thousands, and they are all different.

Why don't you write a new one?

Proverbs 6:19 - Talks about lying and sowing discord amongst the brethren.

I believe the message here is "Intent to do harm" to another's reputation. Whether it is an outright lie or a hidden truth, it is the act of conveying the information out of malice that defines it as gossip.

I have found, in my many years as a church goer, that often gossip is spread by the Self Righteous in the congregation. Although it is veiled with the Prefix message of "Please keep [member of congregation] in prayer, . . . . " Or " [member of congregation] is under attack by Satan. We must pray for them while they are . . . "

The information can be anything from " . . . Struggling with Alcoholism." to " . . . Sleeping with their bosses wife."  . . . The point is, it is of no concern of anyone else's. Even information that seems harmless like "I would love to help them during this time of financial turmoil." can start out as good intent but is often just a way to look good in the eyes of the church and not out of selflessness. If a person wants prayer or additional attention during a troubled time, they will either ask for it, or let an elder of the church know.

Well one of the things it tells us is at 1 Peter 4:15 "However, let none of you suffer as a murderer  or a thief or a wrongdoer or a  busybody in other people's matter." Also at 1 Timothy 5:13 we are told, " At the same time they also learn to be unoccupied, going around from one house to another; yes , not only unoccupied  but also gossipers  and meddlers in other people's  affairs , talking about things they should not ". So God's word definitely has a negative view of gossip !

Try these two for size, all from the New International Translation:-

Proverbs 11 v 13 & 20 v 19 "A gossip betrays a confidence"

Proverbs 16 v 29 "A gossip separates close friends"

Proverbs 26 v 20 "Without gossip a quarrel dies down"

There are others, mainly in Proverbs.  These are typical.

I trust we all understand the difference between friendly chat and gossip.