15 A gentle answer turns away anger,(A)
but a harsh word stirs up wrath.(B)

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15 A gentle answer(A) turns away wrath,(B)
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.

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18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,(A)
but one slow to anger(B) calms strife.

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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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32 Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s emotions,[a] than capturing a city.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 16:32 Lit and ruling over one’s spirit

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

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17 Better a dry crust with peace
than a house full of feasting with strife.(A)

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17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
    than a house full of feasting, with strife.(A)

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14 To start a conflict is to release a flood;
stop the dispute before it breaks out.(A)

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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 One who loves to offend loves strife;(A)
one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

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

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27 The one who has knowledge restrains his words,(A)
and one who keeps a cool head[a]
is a person of understanding.

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Footnotes

  1. 17:27 Lit spirit

27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,(A)
    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.(B)

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18 Casting the lot(A) ends quarrels
and separates powerful opponents.

19 An offended brother is harder to reach[a]
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

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Footnotes

  1. 18:19 LXX, Syr, Tg, Vg read is stronger

18 Casting the lot settles disputes(A)
    and keeps strong opponents apart.

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

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11 A person’s insight gives him patience,(A)
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.(B)

12 A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion,(C)
but his favor is like dew on the grass.(D)

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

12 A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,(B)
    but his favor is like dew(C) on the grass.(D)

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19 A person with intense anger bears the penalty;
if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.(A)

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19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
    rescue them, and you will have to do it again.

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Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute,(A)
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.(B)

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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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22 Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” (A)
Wait on the Lord,(B) and he will rescue you.(C)

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22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”(A)
    Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.(B)

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