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Proverbs 26:20–21

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26:20Where there is no wood, a fire goes out,

and where there is no gossip,41 contention ceases.42

26:21Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,

so is a contentious person43 to kindle strife.44

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Footnotes

  1. 41 Gossip (that is, the one who goes around whispering and slandering) fuels contention just as wood fuels a fire. The point of the proverb is to prevent contention—if one takes away the cause, contention will cease (e.g., 18:8).
  2. 42 Heb “becomes silent.”
  3. 43 Heb “a man of contentions”; , , “a quarrelsome person.” The expression focuses on the person who is contentious by nature. His quarreling is like piling fuel on a fire that would otherwise go out. This kind of person not only starts strife, but keeps it going.
  4. 44 The Pilpel infinitive construct לְחַרְחַר (lékharkhar) from חָרַר (kharar, “to be hot; to be scorched; to burn”) means “to kindle; to cause to flare up.”

The NET Bible First Edition, Copyright 1996-2005 by Biblical Studies Press

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For lack of wood the fire goes out,

and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

Copyright 2001 Crossway Bibles

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Without wood a fire goes out;

without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica, Inc.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Without wood, fire goes out;

without a gossip, conflict dies down.

As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

Copyright 2017 Holman Bible Publishers

NLTNew Living Translation

Fire goes out without wood,

and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

A quarrelsome person starts fights

as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For lack of wood, a fire goes out,

and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.

As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire,

so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.

Copyright 2012 Lexham Press

KJV 1900King James Version

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.

Public Domain