Proverbs 26:21

Similitudes and Instructions

20Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases. 21Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. 22The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

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Berean Standard Bible
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
American Standard Version (1901)
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
Bible in Basic English
Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started.
Douay-Rheims 1899
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so an angry man stirreth up strife.
Free Bible Version
An argumentative person fires up quarrels like putting charcoal on hot embers or wood on a fire.
Geneva Bible 1599
As ye cole maketh burning coles, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.
King James (Authorized) Version
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
One Unity Resource Bible
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
Translation for Translators
Putting charcoal on burning coals or putting wood on a fire causes the fire to keep burning; similarly, people who like to quarrel cause people to keep arguing.
Unlocked Literal Bible
As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
Noah Webster Bible
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
World English Bible
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
Young's Literal Translation
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.