“Or can one walk upon hot coals”: “Hot coals” refers to the burning coals (charcoal) made from wood.

“And his feet not be scorched?”: “Feet” refers to the soles of the feet. The same adjustments apply to this rhetorical question as in verse 27.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .