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

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

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

don’t be in a hurry to go to court. For what will you do in the end if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.

But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying.For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.Control your temper, for anger labels you a fool.

A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.

After consulting with his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent this challenge to Israel’s king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu:“ Come and meet me in battle!”But King Jehoash of Israel replied to King Amaziah of Judah with this story:“ Out in the Lebanon mountains, a thistle sent a message to a mighty cedar tree:‘ Give your daughter in marriage to my son.’ But just then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and stepped on the thistle, crushing it!“ You are saying,‘ I have defeated Edom,’ and you are very proud of it. But my advice is to stay at home. Why stir up trouble that will only bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?”But Amaziah refused to listen, for God was determined to destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom.So King Jehoash of Israel mobilized his army against King Amaziah of Judah. The two armies drew up their battle lines at Beth shemesh in Judah.Judah was routed by the army of Israel, and its army scattered and fled for home.King Jehoash of Israel captured Judah’s king, Amaziah son of Joash and grandson of Ahaziah, at Beth shemesh. Then he brought him to Jerusalem, where he demolished 600 feet of Jerusalem’s wall, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.He carried off all the gold and silver and all the articles from the Temple of God that had been in the care of Obed edom. He also seized the treasures of the royal palace, along with hostages, and then returned to Samaria.

People with understanding control their anger; a hot temper shows great foolishness.

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

An angry person starts fights; a hot tempered person commits all kinds of sin.

A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

Then the people of Ephraim mobilized an army and crossed over the Jordan River to Zaphon. They sent this message to Jephthah:“ Why didn’t you call for us to help you fight against the Ammonites? We are going to burn down your house with you in it!”Jephthah replied,“ I summoned you at the beginning of the dispute, but you refused to come! You failed to help us in our struggle against Ammon.So when I realized you weren’t coming, I risked my life and went to battle without you, and the Lord gave me victory over the Ammonites. So why have you now come to fight me?”The people of Ephraim responded,“ You men of Gilead are nothing more than fugitives from Ephraim and Manasseh.” So Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and attacked the men of Ephraim and defeated them.Jephthah captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan River, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim tried to go back across, the men of Gilead would challenge him.“ Are you a member of the tribe of Ephraim?” they would ask. If the man said,“ No, I’m not,”they would tell him to say“ Shibboleth.” If he was from Ephraim, he would say“ Sibboleth,” because people from Ephraim cannot pronounce the word correctly. Then they would take him and kill him at the shallow crossings of the Jordan. In all, 42,000 Ephraimites were killed at that time.

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.

and followed the counsel of his younger advisers. He told the people,“ My father laid heavy burdens on you, but I’m going to make them even heavier! My father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions!”So the king paid no attention to the people. This turn of events was the will of God, for it fulfilled the Lord’s message to Jeroboam son of Nebat through the prophet Ahijah from Shiloh.When all Israel realized that the king had refused to listen to them, they responded,“ Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Back to your homes, O Israel! Look out for your own house, O David!” So all the people of Israel returned home.

Then the people of Ephraim asked Gideon,“ Why have you treated us this way? Why didn’t you send for us when you first went out to fight the Midianites?” And they argued heatedly with Gideon.But Gideon replied,“ What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t even the leftover grapes of Ephraim’s harvest better than the entire crop of my little clan of Abiezer?God gave you victory over Oreb and Zeeb, the commanders of the Midianite army. What have I accomplished compared to that?” When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer, their anger subsided.

But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.

Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.

But all the men of Israel complained to the king,“ The men of Judah stole the king and didn’t give us the honor of helping take you, your household, and all your men across the Jordan.”The men of Judah replied,“ The king is one of our own kinsmen. Why should this make you angry? We haven’t eaten any of the king’s food or received any special favors!”“ But there are ten tribes in Israel,” the others replied.“ So we have ten times as much right to the king as you do. What right do you have to treat us with such contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing him back to be our king again?” The argument continued back and forth, and the men of Judah spoke even more harshly than the men of Israel.There happened to be a troublemaker there named Sheba son of Bicri, a man from the tribe of Benjamin. Sheba blew a ram’s horn and began to chant:“ Down with the dynasty of David! We have no interest in the son of Jesse. Come on, you men of Israel, back to your homes!”So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed with their king and escorted him from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to look after the palace and placed them in seclusion. Their needs were provided for, but he no longer slept with them. So each of them lived like a widow until she died.Then the king told Amasa,“ Mobilize the army of Judah within three days, and report back at that time.”So Amasa went out to notify Judah, but it took him longer than the time he had been given.Then David said to Abishai,“ Sheba son of Bicri is going to hurt us more than Absalom did. Quick, take my troops and chase after him before he gets into a fortified town where we can’t reach him.”So Abishai and Joab, together with the king’s bodyguard and all the mighty warriors, set out from Jerusalem to go after Sheba.As they arrived at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them. Joab was wearing his military tunic with a dagger strapped to his belt. As he stepped forward to greet Amasa, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.“ How are you, my cousin?” Joab said and took him by the beard with his right hand as though to kiss him.Amasa didn’t notice the dagger in his left hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it so that his insides gushed out onto the ground. Joab did not need to strike again, and Amasa soon died. Joab and his brother Abishai left him lying there and continued after Sheba.One of Joab’s young men shouted to Amasa’s troops,“ If you are for Joab and David, come and follow Joab.”But Amasa lay in his blood in the middle of the road, and Joab’s man saw that everyone was stopping to stare at him. So he pulled him off the road into a field and threw a cloak over him.With Amasa’s body out of the way, everyone went on with Joab to capture Sheba son of Bicri.Meanwhile, Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel and eventually came to the town of Abel beth maacah. All the members of his own clan, the Bicrites, assembled for battle and followed him into the town.When Joab’s forces arrived, they attacked Abel beth maacah. They built a siege ramp against the town’s fortifications and began battering down the wall.But a wise woman in the town called out to Joab,“ Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you.”As he approached, the woman asked,“ Are you Joab?”“ I am,” he replied. So she said,“ Listen carefully to your servant.”“ I’m listening,” he said.Then she continued,“ There used to be a saying,‘ If you want to settle an argument, ask advice at the town of Abel.’I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying an important town in Israel. Why do you want to devour what belongs to the Lord?”And Joab replied,“ Believe me, I don’t want to devour or destroy your town!That’s not my purpose. All I want is a man named Sheba son of Bicri from the hill country of Ephraim, who has revolted against King David. If you hand over this one man to me, I will leave the town in peace.”“ All right,” the woman replied,“ we will throw his head over the wall to you.”Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and called his troops back from the attack. They all returned to their homes, and Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.

Finally Abram said to Lot,“ Let’s not allow this conflict to come between us or our herdsmen. After all, we are close relatives!The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.”

Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

In a single day Pekah son of Remaliah, Israel’s king, killed 120,000 of Judah’s troops, all of them experienced warriors, because they had abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors.

Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question.The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them— much to everyone’s joy— that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them.But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted,“ The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses.”So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue.At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows:“ Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe.God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us.He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith.So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear?We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.”Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.When they had finished, James stood and said,“ Brothers, listen to me.Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself.And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written:‘ Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it,so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord, including the Gentiles— all those I have called to be mine. The Lord has spoken—he who made these things known so long ago.’“ And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood.For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations.”

But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek speaking believers complained about the Hebrew speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said,“ We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen( a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch( an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).

Abijah and his army inflicted heavy losses on them; 500,000 of Israel’s select troops were killed that day.

Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self control than to conquer a city.

Then Abner suggested to Joab,“ Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.”“ All right,” Joab agreed.So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side— twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David.Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords.A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David.