20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,

or like vinegar poured on a wound,

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain

is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

24 Better to live on a corner of the roof

than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul

is good news from a distant land.

20 As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather,

And as vinegar upon nitre,

So is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat;

And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head,

And the Lord shall reward thee.

23 The north wind driveth away rain:

So doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,

Than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul,

So is good news from a far country.

20 Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart

is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather

or pouring vinegar in a wound.

21 If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.

If they are thirsty, give them water to drink.

22 You will heap burning coals of shame on their heads,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 As surely as a north wind brings rain,

so a gossiping tongue causes anger!

24 It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic

than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.

25 Good news from far away

is like cold water to the thirsty.

20 Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather,

And like vinegar on soda,

Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;

And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,

And the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain,

And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

24 It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

25 As cold water to a weary soul,

So is good news from a far country.

20 Singing songs to someone who is sad

is like taking away his coat on a cold day

or pouring vinegar on soda.

21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him.

If he is thirsty, give him a drink.

22 Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 As the north wind brings rain,

telling gossip brings angry looks.

24 It is better to live in a corner on the roof

than inside the house with a quarreling wife.

25 Good news from a faraway place

is like a cool drink when you are tired.

20 As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda,

So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat;

And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head,

And Jehovah will reward thee.

23 The north wind bringeth forth rain:

So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,

Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul,

So is good news from a far country.

20 As he that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to a sad heart.

21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and Jehovah shall reward thee.

23 The north wind bringeth forth rain, and the angry countenance a backbiting tongue.

24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.

25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

20 ⸤Like⸥ taking off a coat on a cold day 

or pouring vinegar on baking soda, 

so is singing songs to one who has an evil heart. 

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him some food to eat, 

and if he is thirsty, give him some water to drink. 

22 ⸤In this way⸥ you will make him feel guilty and ashamed, 

and the Lord will reward you. 

23 ⸤As⸥ the north wind brings rain, 

so a whispering tongue brings angry looks. 

24 Better to live on a corner of a roof 

than to share a home with a quarreling woman. 

25 ⸤Like⸥ cold water to a thirsty soul, 

so is good news from far away. 

20 Singing songs to a troubled heart

is like taking off clothing on a cold day

or like pouring vinegar on soda.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind produces rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

24 Better to live on the corner of a roof

than to share a house with a nagging wife.

25 Good news from a distant land

is like cold water to a parched throat.

20 Like vinegar on a wound

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood,

sorrow gnaws at the human heart.

21 If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat;

and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink;

22 for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind produces rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a contentious wife.

25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

so is good news from a far country.

20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,

is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him bread,

and if thirsty, let him drink water.

22 For coals of fire you will heap upon his head,

and Yahweh will reward you.

23 The wind of the north produces rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry faces.

24 Better to live upon the corner of a roof

than with a woman of contention and in a shared house.

25 Like cold water upon a weary soul,

so too is good news from a distant place.

20 You may sing songs to a troubled heart.

But that’s like taking a coat away on a cold day.

It’s like pouring vinegar on baking soda.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat.

If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 By doing those things, you will pile up burning coals on his head.

And the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings rain.

And a crafty tongue brings angry looks.

24 It is better to live on a corner of a roof

than to share a house with a nagging wife.

25 Hearing good news from a land far away

is like drinking cold water when you are tired.

20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,

Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

22 For you will heap burning coals on his head,

And the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain,

And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

24 It is better to live in a corner of the roof

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul,

So is good news from a distant land.