Scornful people ¹  inflame ²  a city, ³  but those who are wise turn away wrath.

biblegateway Pro 29:8

Scorners set a city aflame, But wise men turn away anger.

Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger.

Mockers create an uproar in a city, but wise people turn away anger.

biblegateway Pro 29:8

Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.

Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.

bibleoremus Pro 29:8

Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.

Arrogance can inflame a city, but wisdom averts the people's anger.

biblegateway Pro 29:8

Scoffers set a city aflame, But wise men turn away wrath.

Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise [men] turn away wrath.

biblegateway Pro 29:8

Scornful people ¹  inflame ²  a city, ³  but those who are wise turn away wrath.

¹ tn Heb “men of scorn”; NAB “Arrogant men”; ASV, NRSV “Scoffers”; NIV, NLT “Mockers.”

² tn The verb means “to blow; to breathe” (BDB 806 s.v. פּוּחַ). In the Hiphil imperfect its meaning here is “to excite; to inflame” a city, as in blowing up a flame or kindling a fire. It is also used with “words” in 6:19 and 12:17 – they “puff out words.” Such scornful people make dangerous situations worse, whereas the wise calm things down (e.g., 2 Sam 20).

³ tn The term “city” is a metonymy of subject; it refers to the people in the city who can easily be set in an uproar by such scornful people.