Proverbs 29:8

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

Proverbs 29:8 in Other Translations

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

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

8 Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but the wise will calm anger.

8 A gang of cynics can upset a whole city; a group of sages can calm everyone down.

8 Scoffers set a city in a flame; But wise men turn away wrath.

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

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

8 Those who make fun of others stir up a city. But wise people turn anger 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 Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.

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

9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 11:11; S Proverbs 16:14