30 (A)Do not contend with a man for no reason,
    when he has done you no harm.

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30 Don’t accuse anyone without reason,
    when they haven’t harmed you.

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12 Hatred stirs up strife,
    but (A)love covers all offenses.

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12 Hate stirs up conflict,
    but love covers all offenses.

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10 (A)By insolence comes nothing but strife,
    but with those who take advice is wisdom.

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10 The empty-headed cause conflict out of pride;
    those who take advice are wise.

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18 (A)A hot-tempered man (B)stirs up strife,
    but he who is (C)slow to anger quiets contention.

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18 Hotheads stir up conflict,
    but patient people calm down strife.

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28 (A)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and (B)a whisperer (C)separates close friends.

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28 Destructive people produce conflict;
    gossips alienate close friends.

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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 The start of a quarrel is like letting out water,
    so drop the dispute before it breaks out.

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19 Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
    he who (A)makes his door high seeks destruction.

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19 Those who love an offense love a quarrel;
    those who build a high doorway invite a collapse.

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19 A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
    and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

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19 An offended ally is more formidable than a city;
    such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

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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 honorable to back off from a fight,
    but fools jump right in.

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19 It is (A)better to live in a desert land
    than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

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19 Better to live in a wilderness
    than in a house with a contentious and angry woman.

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10 (A)Drive out a scoffer, (B)and strife will go out,
    and (C)quarreling and abuse will cease.

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10 Remove the mocker and conflict disappears;
    judgment and shame also stop.

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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?

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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

don’t be quick to quarrel over;
    what will you do in the future when your neighbor shames you?

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