Proverbs 26:21
19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
- KJV
- As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
- WEB
- As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
- ASV
- [As] coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
- DARBY
- [As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
- BLB
- Charcoal to burning coals, and wood to a fire, so [is] a man of quarrels to kindle strife.
- ÅB
- Som kull blir til glør, og som ved nærer ild, slik voldes kiv av en trettekjær mann.
- OTB
- Som kull til glør og ved til ild, slik er en stridslysten person for å tenne strid.
- B1930
- Som kull blir til glør, og som ved nærer ild, slik voldes kiv av en trettekjær mann.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 15:18
A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
Read in contextProverbs 29:22
An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
Read in context2 Samuel 20:1
And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
Read in contextPsalms 120:4
Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.
Read in contextProverbs 10:12
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Read in context1 Kings 12:2–3
And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
Read in context1 Kings 12:20
And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
Read in contextProverbs 30:33
Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
Read in context