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30 Don’t accuse a man for no good reason.
    Don’t accuse him if he has not harmed you.

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30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
    when they have done you no harm.

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12 Hatred stirs up trouble.
    But love forgives all wrongs.

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12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
    but love covers over all wrongs.(A)

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10 Pride leads to arguments.
    But those who take advice are wise.

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10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
    but wisdom is found in those who take advice.(A)

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18 A person who quickly gets angry causes trouble.
    But a person who controls his temper stops a quarrel.

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18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,(A)
    but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.(B)

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28 An evil person causes trouble.
    And a person who gossips ruins friendships.

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28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(A)
    and a gossip separates close friends.(B)

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14 Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam.
    So stop the quarrel before a fight 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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19 Whoever loves to quarrel loves to sin.
    Whoever is proud is asking for trouble.

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19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
    whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

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19 A brother who has been insulted is harder to win back than a walled city.
    And arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.

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19 A brother wronged(A) is more unyielding than a fortified city;
    disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

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Foolish people are always getting into quarrels.
    But avoiding quarrels will bring you honor.

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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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19 It is better to live alone in the desert
    than with a quarreling and complaining wife.

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19 Better to live in a desert
    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.(A)

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10 Get rid of the person who makes fun of wisdom.
    Then fighting, quarrels and insults will stop.

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10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
    quarrels and insults are ended.(A)

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    do not quickly take someone to court.
What will you do later
    when your neighbor proves you are wrong?

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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

Don’t give a foolish person a foolish answer.
    If you do, you will be just like him.

But answer a foolish person as he should be answered.
    If you don’t, he will think he is really wise.

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Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
    or you yourself will be just like him.(A)
Answer a fool according to his folly,
    or he will be wise in his own eyes.(B)

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