Proverbs 26:20

When trees fail [or When woods shall fail], the fire shall be quenched; and when a privy backbiter is withdrawn, strives rest. (When there is no more wood, the fire shall be quenched; and when a gossip departeth, or stoppeth speaking, the argument shall be ended.)

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

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 a man that harmeth guilefully his friend, and when he is taken, he shall say, I did playing. ( is a person who deceitfully harmeth his friend, and when he is caught, he saith, I was just playing.)

21As dead coals at quick coals, and trees at the fire, [or As dead coals to quick coals, and wood to fire]; so a wrathful man (that) raiseth chidings. (Like dead coals to burning coals, and wood to fire, is an angry person who raiseth up arguments, or strife.)

Read all of Proverbs 26

Cross References

Proverbs 16:28A wayward man raiseth strives; and a man full of words separateth princes. (A wayward person raiseth up strife, or arguments; and a person full of words separateth leaders.)

Proverbs 26:22The words of a privy backbiter be as simple (or The words of a gossip be tasty); and those come till to the innerest things of the heart.

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