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

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

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?

⁸ 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.

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

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

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

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.