Proverbs 17:14

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Proverbs 17:12–16 · Berean Standard Bible

12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.

14 To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.

16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Proverbs 17:19

He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.

Proverbs 26:21

Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

Proverbs 29:22

An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

Judges 12:1

Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”

Judges 12:2

But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands.

Judges 12:3

When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”

Judges 12:4

Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.”

Judges 12:5

The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,”

Judges 12:6

they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed.

2 Samuel 2:14

Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.

2 Samuel 2:15

So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David.

2 Samuel 2:16

Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.

2 Samuel 2:17

The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.

2 Samuel 19:41

Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?”

2 Samuel 19:42

And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?”

2 Samuel 19:43

“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 20:1

Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”

2 Samuel 20:2

So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 20:3

When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows.

2 Samuel 20:4

Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.”

2 Samuel 20:5

So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him.

2 Samuel 20:6

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, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.”

2 Samuel 20:7

So Joab’s men, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri.

2 Samuel 20:8

And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa joined them. Now Joab was dressed in military attire, with a dagger strapped to his belt. And as he stepped forward, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.

2 Samuel 20:9

“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him.

2 Samuel 20:10

Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

2 Samuel 20:11

One of Joab’s young men stood near Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!”

2 Samuel 20:12

But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there, he dragged the body off the road into a field and threw a garment over it.

2 Samuel 20:13

As soon as Amasa’s body was removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri.

2 Samuel 20:14

Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him.

2 Samuel 20:15

And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel-beth-maacah and built a siege ramp against the outer rampart of the city. As all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to topple it,

2 Samuel 20:16

a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.”

2 Samuel 20:17

When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” “I am,” he replied. “Listen to the words of your servant,” she said. “I am listening,” he answered.

2 Samuel 20:18

Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled.

2 Samuel 20:19

I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?”

2 Samuel 20:20

“Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!

2 Samuel 20:21

That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.” “Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.”

2 Samuel 20:22

Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 10:14

and spoke to them as the young men had advised, saying, “Whereas my father made your yoke heavy, I will add to your yoke. Whereas my father scourged you with whips, I will scourge you with scorpions.”

2 Chronicles 10:15

So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from God, in order that the LORD might fulfill the word that He had spoken through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

2 Chronicles 10:16

When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So all the Israelites went home,

2 Chronicles 13:17

Then Abijah and his people struck them with a mighty blow, and 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell slain.

2 Chronicles 25:17

Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent word to the king of Israel Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu. “Come, let us meet face to face,” he said.

2 Chronicles 25:18

But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle.

2 Chronicles 25:19

You have said, ‘Look, I have defeated Edom,’ and your heart has become proud and boastful. Now stay at home. Why should you stir up trouble so that you fall—you and Judah with you?”

2 Chronicles 25:20

But Amaziah would not listen, for this had come from God in order to deliver them into the hand of Jehoash, because they had sought the gods of Edom.

2 Chronicles 25:21

So Jehoash king of Israel advanced, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh in Judah.

2 Chronicles 25:22

And Judah was routed before Israel, and every man fled to his own home.

2 Chronicles 25:23

There at Beth-shemesh, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz. Then Jehoash brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section of four hundred cubits.

2 Chronicles 25:24

He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of God with Obed-edom and in the treasuries of the royal palace, as well as some hostages. Then he returned to Samaria.

2 Chronicles 28:6

For in one day Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 valiant men in Judah. This happened because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Proverbs 13:10

Arrogance leads only to strife, but wisdom is with the well-advised.

Proverbs 14:29

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.

Proverbs 15:1

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

Proverbs 16:32

He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.

Proverbs 19:11

A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 20:3

It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.

Proverbs 25:8

do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

Genesis 13:8

So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are brothers.

Genesis 13:9

Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

Judges 8:1

Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him violently.

Judges 8:2

But Gideon answered them, “Now what have I accomplished compared to you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim better than the grape harvest of Abiezer?

Judges 8:3

God has delivered Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian, into your hand. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he had said this, their anger against him subsided.

Ecclesiastes 7:8

The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.

Ecclesiastes 7:9

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger settles in the lap of a fool.

Matthew 5:39

But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;

Matthew 5:40

if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;

Matthew 5:41

and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Acts 6:1

In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Acts 6:2

So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, “It is unacceptable for us to neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.

Acts 6:3

Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men confirmed to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will appoint this responsibility to them

Acts 6:4

and will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

Acts 6:5

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.

Acts 15:2

And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

Acts 15:3

Sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, recounting the conversion of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.

Acts 15:4

On their arrival in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and apostles and elders, to whom they reported all that God had done through them.

Acts 15:5

But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

Acts 15:6

So the apostles and elders met to look into this matter.

Acts 15:7

After much discussion, Peter got up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you that the Gentiles would hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.

Acts 15:8

And God, who knows the heart, showed His approval by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.

Acts 15:9

He made no distinction between us and them, for He cleansed their hearts by faith.

Acts 15:10

Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?

Acts 15:11

On the contrary, we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

Acts 15:12

The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

Acts 15:13

When they had finished speaking, James declared, “Brothers, listen to me!

Acts 15:14

Simon has told us how God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people to be His own.

Acts 15:15

The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written:

Acts 15:16

‘After this I will return and rebuild the fallen tent of David. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it,

Acts 15:17

so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does these things

Acts 15:18

that have been known for ages.’

Acts 15:19

It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not cause trouble for the Gentiles who are turning to God.

Acts 15:20

Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.

Acts 15:21

For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.”

Romans 12:18

If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

1 Thessalonians 4:11

and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.

2 Timothy 2:23

But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling.

2 Timothy 2:24

And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.

James 3:14

But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth.

James 3:15

Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

James 3:16

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

James 3:17

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

James 3:18

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.