The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

纷争的起头如水放开，所以，在争闹之先必当止息争竞。

纷争掀起，如同缺口的水；因此，争端尚未爆发就当制止。

纷争掀起，如同缺口的水；因此，争端尚未爆发就当制止。

争端爆发如洪水决堤，当在爆发前将其制止。

纷争的开始，如同决堤的水；所以在争执发生以前，就要制止。

纷争的开始，就如放开的水；卷入争执之前，当放弃争辩。

紛爭的起頭如水放開，所以，在爭鬧之先必當止息爭競。

紛爭掀起，如同缺口的水；因此，爭端尚未爆發就當制止。

紛爭掀起，如同缺口的水；因此，爭端尚未爆發就當制止。

爭端爆發如洪水決堤，當在爆發前將其制止。

紛爭的開始，如同決堤的水；所以在爭執發生以前，就要制止。

紛爭之起點如放水；故爭吵尚未暴發，先要放棄。

紛爭的開始，就如放開的水；捲入爭執之前，當放棄爭辯。

釁端之起、如水潰決、宜先弭之、以免爭鬥、

釁隙之開、若江河之潰、故爭競將起、必弭之。

爭端之起、如水之破隙、故爭競未發之先、當止之、

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

Starting to argue is like making a crack in a dam. So drop the matter before a fight breaks out.

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

Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.

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

The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

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

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

Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!

The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

Do not go out hastily to argue your case; Otherwise, what will you do in the end, When your neighbor humiliates you?

Avoiding strife is an honor for a person, But any fool will quarrel.

and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you,

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial, free of hypocrisy.And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than arrogance of spirit.Do not be eager in your spirit to be angry, For anger resides in the heart of fools.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying,“ Come, let’s face each other.”But Joash the king of Israel sent a reply to Amaziah king of Judah, saying,“ The thorn bush that was in Lebanon sent word to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying,‘ Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But a wild beast that was in Lebanon passed by and trampled the thorn bush.You said,‘ Behold, you have defeated Edom.’ And your heart has lifted you up in boasting. Now stay home; why should you provoke trouble so that you, would fall, you and Judah with you?”But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, so that He might hand them over to Joash, because they had sought the gods of Edom.So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth shemesh, which belonged to Judah.And Judah was defeated by Israel, and they fled, every man to his tent.Then Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits.He took all the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of God with Obed edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages too, and returned to Samaria.

One who is slow to anger has great understanding; But one who is quick tempered exalts foolishness.

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.

An angry person stirs up strife, And a hot tempered person abounds in wrongdoing.

Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious person to kindle strife.

Now the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they crossed to Zaphon; and they said to Jephthah,“ Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you!”So Jephthah said to them,“ I and my people were in a major dispute with the sons of Ammon; and I did call you, but you did not save me from their hand.When I saw that you were no deliverer, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the Lord handed them over to me. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim; and the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said,“ You are survivors of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and in the midst of Manasseh.”And the Gileadites took control of the crossing places of the Jordan opposite Ephraim. And it happened whenever any of the survivors of Ephraim said,“ Let me cross over,” that the men of Gilead would say to him,“ Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said,“ No,”then they would say to him,“ Just say,‘ Shibboleth.’ ” But he said,“ Sibboleth,” for he was not prepared to pronounce it correctly. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the crossing places of the Jordan. So at that time forty two thousand from Ephraim fell.

But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.The Lord’s bond servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, skillful in teaching, patient when wronged,

One who loves wrongdoing loves strife; One who makes his doorway high seeks destruction.

He spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying,“ My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.”So the king did not listen to the people, because it was a turn of events from God so that the Lord might establish His word, which He spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.When all Israel saw that the king had not listened to them, the people replied to the king, saying,“ What share do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. Everyone to your tents, Israel! Now look after your own house, David!” So all Israel went away to their tents.

Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon,“ What is this thing that you have done to us, not calling upon us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they quarreled with him vehemently.But he said to them,“ What have I done now in comparison with you? Is the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim not better than the vintage of Abiezer?God has handed over to you the leaders of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb; and what was I able to do in comparison with you?” Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.

But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also.And if anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak also.Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

Through overconfidence comes nothing but strife, But wisdom is with those who receive counsel.

And behold, all the men of Israel came to the king and said to the king,“ Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, abducted you and brought the king and his household and all David’s men with him, over the Jordan?”Then all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel,“ Because the king is a close relative to us. Why then are you angry about this matter? Have we eaten at all at the king’s expense, or has anything been taken for us?”But the men of Israel answered the men of Judah and said,“ We have ten parts in the king, therefore we also have more claim on David than you. Why then did you treat us with contempt? Was it not our advice first to bring back our king?” Yet the words of the men of Judah were harsher than the words of the men of Israel.Now a worthless man happened to be there whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjaminite; and he blew the trumpet and said,“ We have no share in David, Nor do we have an inheritance in the son of Jesse; Every man to his tents, Israel!”So all the men of Israel withdrew from following David and followed Sheba the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah remained loyal to their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.Then David came to his house in Jerusalem, and the king took the ten women, the concubines whom he had left behind to take care of the house, and put them in custody and provided them with food, but did not have relations with them. So they were locked up until the day of their death, living as widows.Now the king said to Amasa,“ Summon the men of Judah for me within three days, and be present here yourself.”So Amasa went to summon the men of Judah, but he was delayed longer than the set time which he had designated for him.And David said to Abishai,“ Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom; take your lord’s servants and pursue him, so that he does not find for himself fortified cities and escape from our sight.”So Joab’s men went out after him, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the warriors; and they left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.When they were at the large stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Now Joab was dressed in his military attire, and over it he had a belt with a sword in its sheath strapped on at his waist; and as he went forward, it fell out.And Joab said to Amasa,“ Is it going well for you, my brother?” And Joab took hold of Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him.But Amasa was not on guard against the sword which was in Joab’s hand, so he struck him in the belly with it and spilled out his intestines on the ground, and did not strike him again, and he died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba the son of Bichri.Now one of Joab’s young men stood by him and said,“ Whoever favors Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!”But Amasa was wallowing in his own blood in the middle of the road. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa from the road to the field and threw a garment over him when he saw that everyone who came by him stood still.As soon as he was removed from the road, all the men went on after Joab to pursue Sheba the son of Bichri.Now he went on through all the tribes of Israel to Abel, that is, Beth maacah, and all the Berites; and they assembled and went after him as well.And they came and besieged him in Abel Beth maacah, and they built up an assault ramp against the city, and it stood against the outer rampart; and all the people who were with Joab were wreaking destruction in order to topple the wall.Then a wise woman called out from the city,“ Listen, listen! Please tell Joab,‘ Come here that I may speak with you.’ ”So he approached her, and the woman said,“ Are you Joab?” And he answered,“ I am.” Then she said to him,“ Listen to the words of your slave.” And he said,“ I am listening.”Then she spoke, saying,“ In the past they used to say,‘ They will undoubtedly ask advice at Abel,’ and that is how they ended a dispute.I am one of those who are ready for peace and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city, even a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?”Joab replied,“ Far be it, far be it from me that I would consume or destroy!Such is not the case. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against King David. Only turn him over, and I will depart from the city.” And the woman said to Joab,“ Behold, his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”Then the woman wisely came to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the trumpet, and they were dispersed from the city, each to his tent. Joab also returned to the king at Jerusalem.

So Abram said to Lot,“ Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are relatives!Is the entire land not before you? Please separate from me; if you choose the left, then I will go to the right; or if you choose the right, then I will go to the left.”

A person’s discretion makes him slow to anger, And it is his glory to overlook an offense.

For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had abandoned the Lord God of their fathers.

And after Paul and Barnabas had a heated argument and debate with them, the brothers determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue.Therefore, after being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and they were bringing great joy to all the brothers and sisters.When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were received by the church, the apostles, and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying,“ It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to keep the Law of Moses.”The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them,“ Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.Since this is the case, why are you putting God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our forefathers nor we have been able to bear?But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles.After they stopped speaking, James responded, saying,“ Brothers, listen to me.Simeon has described how God first concerned Himself about taking a people for His name from among the Gentiles.The words of the Prophets agree with this, just as it is written:‘ After these things I will return, And I will rebuild the fallen tabernacle of David, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it,So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’Says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago.Therefore, it is my judgment that we do not cause trouble for those from the Gentiles who are turning to God,but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols, from acts of sexual immorality, from what has been strangled, and from blood.For from ancient generations Moses has those who preach him in every city, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

Now at this time, as the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint developed on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said,“ It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables.Instead, brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”The announcement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

Abijah and his people defeated them with a great slaughter, so that five hundred thousand chosen men of Israel fell slain.

One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And one who rules his spirit, than one who captures a city.

Then Abner said to Joab,“ Now have the young men arise and hold a martial skills match in our presence.” And Joab said,“ Have them arise!”So they got up and went over by count, twelve for Benjamin and Ish bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve from the servants of David.And each one of them seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.That day the battle was very severe, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.