Proverbs 29:8

8 Men of pride are the cause of violent acts in a town, but by wise men wrath is turned away.

Proverbs 29:8 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 29:8

Scornful men bring a city into a snare
Such as despise dominion, speak evil of dignities; proud and haughty men, that speak Loftily, and with a contempt of their superiors; or who make a mock at religion, and scoff at all that is good and serious; these bring the inhabitants of a city into a snare, to rebel against their governors, and so into mischief and ruin: or, they "burn a city", as the Septuagint and Syriac versions ^F15; they inflame it, or blow it up into a flame; raise a combustion in it, and fill it with strifes and contentions; and bring down the wrath of God upon it, like fire: or, they "blow upon a city" ^F16; raise storms and tempests in it; turn all things upside down, and throw it into the utmost confusion, or blow it up; but wise [men] turn away wrath;
the wrath of men, by their wise counsels and advice, and appease tumults and seditions, and restore things to a quiet and settled state; or the wrath of God, by interposing with their prayers between him and a sinful people, as Moses did, ( Psalms 106:23 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 "Inflammant urbem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F16 (hyrq wxypy) "suffiant, vel periflant civitatem", Gejerus; "diffiant civitatem", Gussetius, p. 667. "exsuffiant civitatem", Cocceius, Schultens.

Proverbs 29:8 In-Context

6 In the steps of an evil man there is a net for him, but the upright man gets away quickly and is glad.

7 The upright man gives attention to the cause of the poor: the evil-doer gives no thought to it.

8 Men of pride are the cause of violent acts in a town, but by wise men wrath is turned away.

9 If a wise man goes to law with a foolish man, he may be angry or laughing, but there will be no rest.

10 Men of blood are haters of the good man, and evil-doers go after his soul.