Keepingawayfrom strifeis an honorfor a man,But anyfoolwill quarrel.
He whois slowto angeris betterthanthe mighty,And he who ruleshis spirit,thanhe who capturesa city.
The beginningof strifeis [like] lettingout water,So abandonthe quarrelbeforeit breaksout.
Be kindto one another,tender-hearted,forgivingeach other,justas Godin Christalsohas forgivenyou.
A man'sdiscretionmakeshim slowto anger,And it is his gloryto overlooka transgression.
He whois slowto angerhas greatunderstanding,But he whois quick-temperedexaltsfolly.
Whatis the sourceof quarrelsand conflictsamongyou? Is not the sourceyour pleasuresthat wage warin your members?
A fool'slipsbringstrife,And his mouthcallsfor blows.
But ifyou havebitterjealousyand selfish ambitionin your heart,do not be arrogantand [so] lieagainstthe truth.
"Proud,""Haughty,""Scoffer,"are his names,Who actswith insolentpride.
A quick-temperedman actsfoolishly,And a manof evildevicesis hated.
Jehoashkingof Israelsentto Amaziahkingof Judah,saying,"The thornbushwhichwas in Lebanonsentto the cedarwhichwas in Lebanon,saying,'Giveyour daughterto my sonin marriage.'But there passedby a wildbeastthat was in Lebanon,and trampledthe thornbush.
And there was strifebetweenthe herdsmenof Abram'slivestockand the herdsmenof Lot'slivestock.Now the Canaaniteand the Perizzitewere dwellingthenin the land.
So Abramsaidto Lot,"Pleaselet there be nostrifebetweenyou and me, nor betweenmy herdsmenand your herdsmen,for we are brothers.
[Like] one who takesa dogby the earsIs he who passesby [and] meddleswith strifenot belonging to him.
