Proverbs 29:8

Scornful people ¹  inflame ²  a city, ³  but those who are wise turn away wrath.

Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.

Scorners set a city aflame, But wise men turn away anger.

Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but those who are wise will calm anger.

A gang of cynics can upset a whole city; a group of sages can calm everyone down.

Men of pride are the cause of violent acts in a town, but by wise men wrath is turned away.

Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.

Scoffers set a city aflame, But wise men turn away wrath.

Scornful people ¹  inflame ²  a city, ³  but those who are wise turn away wrath.

¹ tn Heb “men of scorn”; NAB “Arrogant men”; ASV, NRSV “Scoffers”; NIV, NLT “Mockers.”

² tn The verb means “to blow; to breathe” (BDB 806 s.v. פּוּחַ). In the Hiphil imperfect its meaning here is “to excite; to inflame” a city, as in blowing up a flame or kindling a fire. It is also used with “words” in 6:19 and 12:17 – they “puff out words.” Such scornful people make dangerous situations worse, whereas the wise calm things down (e.g., 2 Sam 20).

³ tn The term “city” is a metonymy of subject; it refers to the people in the city who can easily be set in an uproar by such scornful people.