'Refrain From' in the Bible
The king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you cause the people to refrain from their work? Return to your labor!"
If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying helpless under its load, you shall not leave the man to deal with it [alone]; you must help him release the animal [from its burden].
You are to do your work for six days, but on the seventh day you are to refrain from work so that your ox and donkey may rest, and so the son of your maidservant and the alien may be refreshed.
Howbeit firmly refrain from eating the blood; for the blood, is the life, - therefore must thou not eat the life with the flesh.
But if you refrain from making a vow, that would not be [counted as] sin in you.
would you wait until they were grown? Would you go without marrying? No, my daughters; for it is much more difficult for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has gone against me.”
Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers?”
so he sent messengers to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, "Please play the role of a mourner, wear the clothes of a mourner, and refrain from using makeup. Act like a woman who's been in mourning for the dead for many days.
But Neco sent messengers to Josiah, saying, “What business do we have with each other, O King of Judah? I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which I am at war, and God has ordered me to hurry. Stop for your own sake from interfering with God who is with me, so that He will not destroy you.”
The governor told them that they should not eat any of the most holy food until a priest arose with Urim and Thummim [to determine God’s will in the matter].
If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
"Refrain from talking with me so that I may speak; then let come to me what may.
"But if I speak, my pain isn't assuaged; if I refrain from speaking, what do I have to lose?"
Nobles would refrain from speaking, covering their mouths with their hands.
“They hate me, they stand aloof from me,And do not refrain from spitting in my face.
Refrain from anger and forsake wrath. Do not fret; [it] only brings evil.
I weep and refrain from eating food, which causes others to insult me.
[It is] honorable for the man to refrain from strife, but every fool will be quick to quarrel.
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
For the sake of my name I {refrain from} my anger, and [for] my praise I restrain [it] for you [so as] not to cut you off.
The people who do this will be blessed, the people who commit themselves to obedience, who observe the Sabbath and do not defile it, who refrain from doing anything that is wrong.
Also their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold he will take into captivity to Egypt, and he on his part will refrain from attacking the king of the North for some years.
Do not carry a money belt, a provision bag, or [extra] sandals; and do not greet anyone along the way [who would delay you].
for as for us we cannot refrain from speaking of the things which we have seen and heard.
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to stop doing manual labor [in order to support our ministry]?
And my reward? This, that I can preach the gospel free of charge, that I can refrain from insisting on all my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me,
And you masters, act towards your slaves on the same principles, and refrain from threats. For you know that in Heaven there is One who is your Master as well as theirs, and that merely earthly distinctions there are none with Him.
and you have forgotten the encouragement which is addressed to you as sons: "My son, refrain from thinking lightly of the discipline the Lord inflicts, and giving up when you are corrected by Him.
Dear friends, I urge you, as pilgrims and strangers upon earth, to refrain from indulging the cravings of your earthly nature, for they make war upon the soul.
and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
Refrain Fromnot in New American Standard Bible