Proverbs 16:27
25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
- KJV
- An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
- WEB
- A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
- ASV
- A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
- DARBY
- A man of Belial diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is as a scorching fire.
- BLB
- A man of worthlessness digs up evil, and upon his lips [it is] like a fire burning.
- ÅB
- En niding graver en ulykkesgrav, og på hans lepper er det slik som en fortærende ild.
- OTB
- En verdiløs person planlegger ondt, og deres ord er som en brennende ild.
- B1930
- En niding graver en ulykkesgrav, og på hans leber er det likesom en fortærende ild.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
James 3:6
The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Read in contextProverbs 6:14
With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.
Read in contextIsaiah 5:18
Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of deceit and pull sin along with cart ropes,
Read in contextPsalms 17:14–15
from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.
Read in contextPsalms 52:2–4
Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.
Read in context1 Samuel 25:17
Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”
Read in contextPsalms 57:4
My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.
Read in contextProverbs 6:12
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,
Read in context