Proverbs 26:20
When the wood faileth, the fire shall go out: and when the talebearer is taken away, contentions shall cease.
Douay-Rheims 1899
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 is the man that hurteth his friend deceitfully: and when he is taken, saith: I did it in jest.
21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.
Cross References
Proverbs 16:28A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
Proverbs 26:22The words of a talebearer are as it were simple, but they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.
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 →