Proverbs 29:8

8 Men of scorning ensnare a city, And the wise turn back 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 ) .

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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 transgression of the evil [is] a snare, And the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

7 The righteous knoweth the plea of the poor, The wicked understandeth not knowledge.

8 Men of scorning ensnare a city, And the wise turn back anger.

9 A wise man is judged by the foolish man, And he hath been angry, And he hath laughed, and there is no rest.

10 Men of blood hate the perfect, And the upright seek his soul.