Proverbs 18:6

The lips of a fool ¹  enter into strife, ²  and his mouth invites ³  a flogging. ⁴ 

Pr 12:16; Pr 13:10; Pr 14:3; Pr 14:16; Pr 16:27,28; Pr 17:14; Pr 19:19; Pr 20:3; Pr 22:24,25; Pr 25:24; Pr 27:3; Pr 29:9

¹ sn The “lips” is a metonymy of cause, meaning what the fool says. The “mouth” in the second colon is likewise a metonymy for speech, what comes out of the mouth.

² sn “Strife” is a metonymy of cause, it is the cause of the beating or flogging that follows; “flogging” in the second colon is a metonymy of effect, the flogging is the effect of the strife. The two together give the whole picture.

³ tn Heb “calls for.” This is personification: What the fool says “calls for” a beating or flogging. The fool deserves punishment, but does not actually request it.

⁴ tn Heb “blows.” This would probably be physical beatings, either administered by the father or by society (e.g., also 19:25; Ps 141:5; cf. NAB, NIV, TEV, NLT). Today, however, “a beating” could be associated with violent criminal assault, whereas the context suggests punishment. Therefore “a flogging” is used in the translation, since that term is normally associated with disciplinary action.