Proverbs 17:14
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)“To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.”
A short, plain-language explanation of Proverbs 17:14 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
“To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.”
Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)“The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.”
King James Version · Public Domain“The beginning of strife isas when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.”
American Standard Version · Public Domain“The beginning of contention <FI>is<Fi> a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Proverbs 17:14 — 24 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 13:8So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are brothers.
- Judges 8:1Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him violently.
- Judges 12:1Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”
- 2 Samuel 2:14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.
- 2 Samuel 2:17The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.
- 2 Samuel 19:41Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?”
- 2 Chronicles 10:14and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”
- 2 Chronicles 13:17Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.
- 2 Chronicles 25:17Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.
- 2 Chronicles 28:6For in one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 valiant men in Judah. This happened because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.
- Proverbs 13:10Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.
- Proverbs 14:29A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
- Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Proverbs 16:32He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
- Proverbs 17:19He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
- Proverbs 19:11A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
- Proverbs 20:3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
- Proverbs 25:8do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
- Proverbs 26:21Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
- Proverbs 29:22An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
- Ecclesiastes 7:8The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.
- Matthew 5:39But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
- Acts 6:1In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
- Acts 15:2And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).