Proverbs 26:18-20

King James Version

¹⁸As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

¹⁹So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

²⁰Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

Proverbs 26:18-20

New International Version

¹⁸Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
¹⁹is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

²⁰Without wood a fire goes out;
without a gossip a quarrel dies down.^(A)

¹⁸Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
¹⁹Is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, ^(A)“I was only joking!”

²⁰Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
And where there is no ^[a]talebearer, strife ceases.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

New International Version (NIV)