20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
Focused Passage
Proverbs 26:20
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 20
Cross-references
Original words
Without בְּאֶ֣פֶס H657 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct wood עֵ֭צִים H6086 Noun - masculine plural a fire אֵ֑שׁ H784 Noun - common singular goes out תִּכְבֶּה־ H3518 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular without וּבְאֵ֥ין H369 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Adverb gossip נִ֝רְגָּ֗ן H7279 Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular a conflict מָדֽוֹן׃ H4066 Noun - masculine singular ceases יִשְׁתֹּ֥ק H8367 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular