14 Then Abner said to Joab, “Let’s have some of the young men get up and fight hand to hand in front of us.”

“All right, let them do it,” Joab said.

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

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17 The battle that day was very fierce, and Abner and the Israelites were defeated(A) by David’s men.(B)

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17 And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

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18 Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

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18 As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

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    do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
    if your neighbor puts you to shame?(A)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / Do not go

Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

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18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.(A)

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18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

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14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
    so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.(A)

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

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23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,(A)
    but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

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23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

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26 Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour(A) forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”

27 Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”

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26 Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

27 And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

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