# A worthless person digs up mischief

The writer speaks of a person trying to find ways to harm other people as if that person were digging in the ground to find something buried. AT: "A worthless person looks for mischief as if he were digging for something in the ground" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# worthless

"useless" or "wicked"

# mischief

"evil" or "trouble"

# his speech is like a scorching fire

The writer compares the way this person's words hurt others with the way that fire burns things. AT: "he hurts people with his words, like a fire scorches the things it touches" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-simile]])

# a gossip

a person who gossips or spreads rumors