20 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
20 Where no
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
20 When you run out of wood, the fire goes out; when the gossip ends, the quarrel dies down.
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
20 Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 26:20
Commentary on Proverbs 26:20-22
(Read Proverbs 26:20-22)
Contention heats the spirit, and puts families and societies into a flame. And that fire is commonly kindled and kept burning by whisperers and backbiters.