18Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
Focused Passage
Proverbs 26:18-19
Fools, Sluggards, Quarrels, Gossip, Deceitful Speech, and the Ruin of Unrestrained Folly
The chapter moves from an extended warning about fools, to the self-deception of sluggards, to the danger of meddling and harmful joking, to gossip as conflict fuel, and finally to the concealed malice of lying and flattering speech.
Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources
Study Helps
References and Original Words
Verse 18
Cross-references
Original words
Like a madmanכְּֽ֭מִתְלַהְלֵהַּH3856Preposition-k | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularshootingהַיֹּרֶ֥הH3384Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularfirebrandsזִקִּ֗יםH2131Noun - masculine pluraland deadlyוָמָֽוֶת׃H4194Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singulararrowsחִצִּ֥יםH2671Noun - masculine plural
Verse 19
Cross-references
Original words
soכֵּֽן־H3651Adverbis the manאִ֭ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularwho deceivesרִמָּ֣הH7411Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhis neighborרֵעֵ֑הוּH7453Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularand saysוְ֝אָמַ֗רH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularIאָֽנִי׃H589Pronoun - first person common singularwas onlyהֲֽלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlejokingמְשַׂחֵ֥קH7832Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular