Proverbs 29:8

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

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 ) .

---

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 To an evil person sin is bait in a trap, but a righteous person runs away from it and is glad.

7 A righteous person knows the just cause of the poor. A wicked person does not understand this.

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

9 When a wise person goes to court with a stubborn fool, he may rant and rave, but there is no peace and quiet.

10 Bloodthirsty people hate an innocent person, but decent people seek [to protect] his life.