It is an honor for a man to (A)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.

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It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(A) is quick to quarrel.(B)

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14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so (A)quit before the quarrel breaks out.

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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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11 (A)Good sense makes one slow to anger,
    and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

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11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;(A)
    it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

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32 (A)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

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32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

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29 Whoever is (A)slow to anger has great understanding,
    but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

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29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,(A)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.(B)

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Warning Against Worldliness

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions[a] are (A)at war within you?[b]

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Footnotes

  1. James 4:1 Greek pleasures; also verse 3
  2. James 4:1 Greek in your members

Submit Yourselves to God

What causes fights and quarrels(A) among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle(B) within you?

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14 But if you have bitter (A)jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

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14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition(A) in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.(B)

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A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites (A)a beating.

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The lips of fools bring them strife,
    and their mouths invite a beating.(A)

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32 (A)Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, (B)forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Walk in Love

(C)Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another,(A) forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.(B) Follow God’s example,(C) therefore, as dearly loved children(D)

(A)to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in (B)the Beloved. (C)In him we have (D)redemption (E)through his blood, (F)the forgiveness of our trespasses, (G)according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight

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to the praise of his glorious grace,(A) which he has freely given us in the One he loves.(B) In him we have redemption(C) through his blood,(D) the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches(E) of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,

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    (A)do not hastily bring into court,[a]
for[b] what will you do in the end,
    when your neighbor puts you to shame?
(B)Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
    and do not reveal another's secret,
10 lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
    and your ill repute have no end.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 25:8 Or presence of a noble, as your eyes have seen. 8Do not go hastily out to court
  2. Proverbs 25:8 Hebrew or else

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

If you take your neighbor to court,
    do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.

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Footnotes

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

24 (A)“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
    who acts with arrogant pride.

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24 The proud and arrogant person(A)—“Mocker” is his name—
    behaves with insolent fury.

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And Jehoash king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, (A)“A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.

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But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle(A) in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot.

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