Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible

The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

King James Version

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Holman Bible

To start a conflict is to release a flood;
stop the dispute before it breaks out.

International Standard Version

Starting a quarrel is like spilling water so drop the dispute before it escalates.

A Conservative Version

The beginning of strife is [like] letting out water. Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

American Standard Version

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

Amplified


The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes];
Therefore abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.

Bible in Basic English

The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.

Darby Translation

The beginning of contention is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.

Julia Smith Translation

The causing water to break forth. is the beginning of strife: cast off contention before being irritated.

King James 2000

The beginning of strife is like releasing water: therefore leave off contention, before a quarrel starts.

Lexham Expanded Bible

[Like] the release of water [is] the beginning of strife; before it breaks out, stop the quarrel.

Modern King James verseion

The beginning of strife is like letting out water; therefore leave off fighting, before it breaks out.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

He that soweth discord and strife, is like one that diggeth up a water brook; but an open enemy is like the water that breaketh out and runneth abroad.

NET Bible

Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!

New Heart English Bible

The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

The Emphasized Bible

A letting forth of water, is the beginning of strife, therefore, before it breaketh out, abandon, contention.

Webster

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.

World English Bible

The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

Youngs Literal Translation

The beginning of contention is a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
ראשׁית 
Re'shiyth 
Usage: 51

of strife
מדון 
Madown 
Usage: 11

פּטר 
Patar 
Usage: 5

נטשׁ 
Natash 
Usage: 40

רב ריב 
Riyb 
Usage: 60

פּנים 
Paniym 
Usage: 2119

it be meddled
גּלע 
Gala` 
Usage: 3

References

Fausets

Context Readings

Proverbs Of Solomon

13 Whosoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

Cross References

Proverbs 20:3

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife, but every fool will be meddling.

Proverbs 25:8

Do not go forth hastily to strive lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof when thy neighbour has put thee to shame.

1 Thessalonians 4:11

and that ye procure to be quiet and to do your business and to work with your hands, as we commanded you,

Genesis 13:8-9

Then Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee and between my pastors and thine, for we are brethren.

Judges 8:1-3

And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus that thou didst not call us when thou didst go to fight against Midian? And they chided with him sharply.

Judges 12:1-6

And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together towards the Aquilon and said unto Jephthah, Why didst thou go over to fight against the sons of Ammon and didst not call us to go with thee? We will burn thy house upon thee with fire.

2 Samuel 2:14-17

And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise and sport before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

2 Samuel 19:41-22

And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah, stolen thee away and have brought the king and his household and all David's men with him, over the Jordan?

2 Chronicles 10:14-16

and answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.

2 Chronicles 13:17

And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter; so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.

2 Chronicles 25:17-24

Then Amaziah, king of Judah, took advice and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another face to face.

2 Chronicles 28:6

For Pekah, the son of Remaliah, slew in Judah one hundred and twenty thousand in one day, who were all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers.

Proverbs 13:10

Pride shall certainly give birth to contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Proverbs 14:29

He that is slow to wrath is of great intelligence, but he that is short of spirit exalts folly.

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 16:32

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.

Proverbs 17:19

Transgression loves him that loves strife, and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.

Proverbs 19:11

The discretion of a man defers his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

Proverbs 26:21

Charcoal for burning coals and wood for fire, and a contentious man to kindle strife.

Proverbs 29:22

The angry man stirs up strife, and the furious man abounds in transgression.

Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and he who has suffered in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Matthew 5:39-41

but I say unto you, That ye resist not with evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Acts 6:1-5

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, that their widows were neglected in the daily ministry.

Acts 15:2-21

When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain other of them should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Romans 12:18

If it can be done, as much as is possible on your part, live in peace with all men.

2 Timothy 2:23-24

But foolish and unwise questions refuse, knowing that they do beget contentions.

James 3:14-18

But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, boast not and do not be liars against the truth.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain