Proverbs 26:21

Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person ¹  to kindle strife. ² 

As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

A quarrelsome person in a dispute is like kerosene thrown on a fire.

Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started.

As charcoal is to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person ¹  to kindle strife. ² 

¹ sn Heb “a man of contentions”; NCV, NRSV, NLT “a quarrelsome person.” The expression focuses on the person who is contentious by nature. His quarreling is like piling fuel on a fire that would otherwise go out. This kind of person not only starts strife, but keeps it going.

² tn The Pilpel infinitive construct לְחַרְחַר (lÿkharkhar) from חָרַר (kharar, “to be hot; to be scorched; to burn”) means “to kindle; to cause to flare up.”