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.

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

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

³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

³² Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

⁷ And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

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.

15 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

² As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

²⁶ Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.