Proverbs 27:4

Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, ¹  but who can stand before jealousy? ² 

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy?

Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but who can survive the destructiveness of jealousy?

We're blasted by anger and swamped by rage, but who can survive jealousy?

Wrath is cruel, and angry feeling an overflowing stream; but who does not give way before envy?

Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who is able to stand before jealousy?

Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy?

Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, ¹  but who can stand before jealousy? ² 

¹ tn Heb “fierceness of wrath and outpouring [= flood] of anger.” A number of English versions use “flood” here (e.g., NASB, NCV, NLT).

² tn The Hebrew term translated “jealousy” here probably has the negative sense of “envy” rather than the positive sense of “zeal.” It is a raging emotion (like “anger” and “wrath,” this word has nuances of heat, intensity) that defies reason at times and can be destructive like a consuming fire (e.g., 6:32-35; Song 8:6-7). The rhetorical question is intended to affirm that no one can survive a jealous rage. (Whether one is the subject who is jealous or the object of the jealousy of someone else is not so clear.)