Parallel Verses
Youngs Literal Translation
The beginning of contention is a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
New American Standard Bible
So
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
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
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.
Themes
Adjudication at law » To be avoided
Strife » Causes of » Forbidden
Strife » Strength and violence of--illustrated
Strife » The beginning of strife
Strife » Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it
Water » Illustrative » (difficulty of stopping,) of strife and contention
Topics
Interlinear
Mayim
Natash
Word Count of 20 Translations in Proverbs 17:14
Verse Info
Context Readings
Proverbs Of Solomon
13 Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house. 14 The beginning of contention is a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife. 15 Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these are an abomination to Jehovah.
Cross References
Proverbs 20:3
An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
Proverbs 25:8
Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
1 Thessalonians 4:11
and to study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we did command you,
Genesis 13:8-9
And Abram saith unto Lot, 'Let there not, I pray thee, be strife between me and thee, and between my shepherds and thy shepherds, for we are men -- brethren.
Judges 8:1-3
And the men of Ephraim say unto him, 'What is this thing thou hast done to us -- not to call for us when thou didst go to fight with Midian?' and they strive with him severely;
Judges 12:1-6
And the men of Ephraim are called together, and pass over northward, and say to Jephthah, 'Wherefore has thou passed over to fight against the Bene-Ammon, and on us hast not called to go with thee? thy house we burn over thee with fire.'
2 Samuel 2:14-17
And Abner saith unto Joab, 'Let the youths rise, I pray thee, and they play before us;' and Joab saith, 'Let them rise.'
2 Samuel 19:41-22
And, lo, all the men of Israel are coming unto the king, and they say unto the king, 'Wherefore have they stolen thee -- our brethren, the men of Judah?' (and they bring the king and his household over the Jordan, and all the men of David with him).
2 Chronicles 10:14-16
and speaketh unto them according to the counsel of the lads, saying, 'My father made your yoke heavy, and I -- I add unto it; my father chastised you with whips, and I -- with scorpions.'
2 Chronicles 13:17
and Abijah and his people smite among them a great smiting, and there fall wounded of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
2 Chronicles 25:17-24
And Amaziah king of Judah taketh counsel, and sendeth unto Joash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying,
2 Chronicles 28:6
And Pekah son of Remaliah slayeth in Judah a hundred and twenty thousand in one day (the whole are sons of valour), because of their forsaking Jehovah, God of their fathers.
Proverbs 13:10
A vain man through pride causeth debate, And with the counselled is wisdom.
Proverbs 14:29
Whoso is slow to anger is of great understanding, And whoso is short in temper is exalting folly.
Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth back fury, And a grievous word raiseth up anger.
Proverbs 16:32
Better is the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.
Proverbs 17:19
Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
Proverbs 19:11
The wisdom of a man hath deferred his anger, And his glory is to pass over transgression.
Proverbs 26:21
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
Proverbs 29:22
An angry man stirreth up contention, And a furious man is multiplying transgression.
Ecclesiastes 7:8-9
Better is the latter end of a thing than its beginning, Better is the patient of spirit, than the haughty of spirit.
Matthew 5:39-41
but I -- I say to you, not to resist the evil, but whoever shall slap thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other;
Acts 6:1-5
And in these days, the disciples multiplying, there came a murmuring of the Hellenists at the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily ministration,
Acts 15:2-21
there having been, therefore, not a little dissension and disputation to Paul and Barnabas with them, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, to go up unto the apostles and elders to Jerusalem about this question,
Romans 12:18
If possible -- so far as in you -- with all men being in peace;
2 Timothy 2:23-24
and the foolish and uninstructed questions be avoiding, having known that they beget strife,
James 3:14-18
and if bitter zeal ye have, and rivalry in your heart, glory not, nor lie against the truth;