17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears

is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting

flaming arrows of death

19 is one who deceives their neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;

without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down to the inmost parts.

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own

is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death

19 is the man who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I am only joking!”

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,

and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23 Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

17 He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him,

Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

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.

21 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.

17 Interfering in someone else’s argument

is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.

18 Just as damaging

as a madman shooting a deadly weapon

19 is someone who lies to a friend

and then says, “I was only joking.”

20 Fire goes out without wood,

and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

21 A quarrelsome person starts fights

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

22 Rumors are dainty morsels

that sink deep into one’s heart.

23 Smooth words may hide a wicked heart,

just as a pretty glaze covers a clay pot.

17 Interfering in someone else’s quarrel as you pass by

is like grabbing a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman shooting

deadly, burning arrows

19 is the one who tricks a neighbor

and then says, “I was just joking.”

20 Without wood, a fire will go out,

and without gossip, quarreling will stop.

21 Just as charcoal and wood keep a fire going,

a quarrelsome person keeps an argument going.

22 The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food;

people like to gobble them up.

23 Kind words from a wicked mind

are like a shiny coating on a clay pot.

17 He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him,

Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a madman who casteth firebrands,

Arrows, and death,

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor,

And saith, Am not I in sport?

20 For lack of wood the fire goeth out;

And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.

21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to inflame strife.

22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts.

23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart

Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

17 He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, 19 so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?

20 Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth. 21 As coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife. 22 The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

23 Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are as an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.

17 ⸤Like⸥ grabbing a dog by the ears, 

⸤so⸥ is a bystander who gets involved in someone else’s quarrel. 

18 Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death, 

19 so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” 

20 Without wood a fire goes out, 

and without gossip a quarrel dies down. 

21 ⸤As⸥ charcoal fuels burning coals and wood fuels fire, 

so a quarrelsome person fuels a dispute. 

22 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily, 

and they go down into a person’s innermost being. 

23 ⸤Like⸥ a clay pot covered with cheap silver, 

⸤so⸥ is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart. 

17 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his

is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,

19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood, fire goes out;

without a gossip, conflict dies down.

21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

22 A gossip’s words are like choice food

that goes down to one’s innermost being.

23 Smooth lips with an evil heart

are like glaze on an earthen vessel.

17 Like somebody who takes a passing dog by the ears

is one who meddles in the quarrel of another.

18 Like a maniac who shoots deadly firebrands and arrows,

19 so is one who deceives a neighbor

and says, “I am only joking!”

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,

and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

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

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

23 Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel

are smooth lips with an evil heart.

17 Grabbing onto the ears of a dog

passing by is one who meddles in a quarrel that is not his own.

18 Like a maniac who shoots

firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 so is a man who deceives his neighbor,

but says “Am I not joking?”

20 For lack of wood, a fire goes out,

and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.

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

so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.

22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels,

and they go down to the inner parts of the body.

23 Like impure silver which overlays an earthen vessel,

so are smooth lips and an evil heart.

17 Don’t get mixed up in someone else’s fight as you are passing by.

That’s like picking a dog up by its ears.

18 Suppose a crazy person shoots

flaming arrows that can kill.

19 A man who lies to his neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!” is just like that person.

20 If you don’t have wood, your fire goes out.

If you don’t talk about others, arguing dies down.

21 Coal glows. Wood burns.

And a man who argues stirs up fights.

22 The words of anyone who talks about others are like tasty bites of food.

They go deep down inside you.

23 Warm words that come from an evil heart

are like shiny paint on a clay pot.

17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears

Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.

18 Like a madman who throws

Firebrands, arrows and death,

19 So is the man who deceives his neighbor,

And says, “Was I not joking?”

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,

And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.

21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

23 Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross

Are burning lips and a wicked heart.