Bible, Vol. 1. Old Testament -- Book 22b. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 28:11ff (Sir 28:11–12) [tr. CEB (2011)]

Dave — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:24:08 +0000

A hasty quarrel sparks a fire,
and hasty conflict sheds blood.
If you blow on a spark, it will flame up,
and if you spit on it, it will go out;
nonetheless, both come out
of your mouth.

[ἔρις κατασπευδομένη ἐκκαίει πῦρ,
καὶ μάχη κατασπεύδουσα ἐκχέει αἷμα.
ἐὰν φυσήσῃς εἰς σπινθῆρα, ἐκκαήσεται,
καὶ ἐὰν πτύσῃς ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν, σβεσθήσεται·
καὶ ἀμφότερα ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου ἐκπορεύεται.]

The Bible (The Old Testament) (14th - 2nd C BC) Judeo-Christian sacred scripture [Tanakh, Hebrew Bible], incl. the Apocrypha (Deuterocanonicals)
Book 22b. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 28:11ff (Sir 28:11–12) [tr. CEB (2011)]
(Source)

More on the history and acceptance of this Apocryphal book here and here.

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

An hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an hasty fighting sheddeth blood.
If thou blow the spark, it shall burn: if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: and both these come out of thy mouth.
[tr. KJV (1611)]

A hasty contention kindleth a fire: and a hasty quarrel sheddeth blood: and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth death.
If thou blow the spark, it shall burn as a fire: and if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: both come out of the mouth.
[tr. DRA (1899), 28:13–14]

A sudden quarrel kindles fire,
a hasty dispute leads to bloodshed.
Blow on a spark and up it flares,
spit on it and out it goes;
both are the effects of your mouth.
[tr. JB (1966); NJB (1985)]

An argument that blazes out suddenly can lead to violence. You can blow on a spark to make it glow, or you can spit on it to put it out. Either way, you do it with your mouth.
[tr. GNT (1992 ed.)]

A hasty quarrel kindles a fire,
and a hasty dispute sheds blood.
If you blow on a spark, it will glow;
if you spit on it, it will be put out,
yet both come out of your mouth.
[tr. NRSV (2021 ed.)]

WIST Quotations

Bible, Vol. 1. Old Testament -- Book 22b. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 28:11ff (Sir 28:11–12) [tr. CEB (2011)]