Proverbs 26:20

When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

In Context

19so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”

21Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.

Read all of Proverbs 26

Cross References

Proverbs 16:28A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.

Proverbs 26:22The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 26:19-20

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? See here, 1. How mischievous those are that make no scruple of deceiving their neighbours; they are as madmen that cast firebrands, arrows, and death, so much hurt may they do by their deceits. They value themselves upon it as polite cunning men, but really they are as madmen. There is not a greater madness in the world than a wilful sin. It is not only the passionate furious man,… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Proverbs 26:20