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New Life Version

Proverbs 20:3

It is an honor for a man to keep away from fighting, but any fool will argue.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Adjudication at Law;   Busybody;   Fool;   Meekness;   Peace;   Strife;   Thompson Chain Reference - Fools;   Strife;   Unity-Strife;   Wisdom-Folly;   The Topic Concordance - Foolishness;   Strife;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Busy-Bodies;   Fools;   Strife;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Glory;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, Book of;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Fool;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Fool;   Quarrel;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute,but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.
Hebrew Names Version
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarreling.
King James Version
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
English Standard Version
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
New American Standard Bible
Avoiding strife is an honor for a person, But any fool will quarrel.
New Century Version
Foolish people are always fighting, but avoiding quarrels will bring you honor.
Amplified Bible
It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife [by handling situations with thoughtful foresight], But any fool will [start a] quarrel [without regard for the consequences].
World English Bible
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarreling.
Geneva Bible (1587)
It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
Legacy Standard Bible
It is a glory for a man to cease quarreling,But any ignorant fool will break out in dispute.
Berean Standard Bible
It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
Contemporary English Version
It makes you look good when you avoid a fight— only fools love to quarrel.
Complete Jewish Bible
Avoiding quarrels brings a person honor; for any fool can explode in anger.
Darby Translation
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.
Easy-to-Read Version
People who refuse to argue deserve respect. Any fool can start an argument.
George Lamsa Translation
It is an honor for a man to cease from strife; but every fool will delight in it.
Good News Translation
Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them.
Lexham English Bible
It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife, but every fool will be quick to quarrel.
Literal Translation
For a man to cease from strife is an honor, but every fool exposes himself.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
It is a mans honoure to kepe himself from strife, but they yt haue pleasure in braulinge, are fooles eueryone.
American Standard Version
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
Bible in Basic English
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
King James Version (1611)
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
It is a mans honour to kepe him selfe from strife: but euery foole wyll be medling.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
It is a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
English Revised Version
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
It is onour to a man that departith hym silf fro stryuyngis; but fonned men ben medlid with dispisyngis.
Update Bible Version
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
Webster's Bible Translation
[It is] an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
New English Translation
It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.
New King James Version
It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.
New Living Translation
Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.
New Revised Standard
It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
Douay-Rheims Bible
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
Revised Standard Version
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.
Young's Literal Translation
An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
THE MESSAGE
It's a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel.

Contextual Overview

3 It is an honor for a man to keep away from fighting, but any fool will argue.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

an: Proverbs 14:29, Proverbs 16:32, Proverbs 17:14, Proverbs 19:11, Proverbs 25:8-10, Ephesians 1:6-8, Ephesians 4:32, Ephesians 5:1

but: Proverbs 14:17, Proverbs 18:6, Proverbs 21:24, 2 Kings 14:9, James 3:14, James 4:1

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 14:10 - why shouldest 2 Chronicles 25:17 - let us see 2 Chronicles 25:19 - why shouldest Proverbs 18:1 - intermeddleth Proverbs 26:17 - passeth

Cross-References

Genesis 20:1
Abraham traveled from there to the land of the Negev, and made his home between Kadesh and Shur. Then he lived for a time in Gerar.
Genesis 20:7
So now return the man's wife. For he is one who speaks for Me. Then he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you and all who are yours will die for sure."
Genesis 20:12
And it is true she is my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not of my mother. And she became my wife.
Genesis 20:13
When God made me go from my father's house, I said to Sarah, ‘This is the kindness you must show me. Everywhere we go, say of me, "He is my brother."'"
Genesis 20:14
Then Abimelech gave to Abraham sheep and cattle, and men and women servants. And he returned his wife Sarah to him.
Genesis 20:15
Abimelech said, "See, my land is in front of you. Make your home any place you want."
Genesis 28:12
And he had a dream. He saw steps going up from the earth to heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and down these steps.
Genesis 31:24
But God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night. He said to him, "Be careful that you do not speak good or bad to Jacob."
Genesis 37:5
Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
Genesis 37:9
Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. He said, "I have had another dream. The sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

[It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife,.... As Abraham did, Genesis 13:7; when engaged in a quarrel with his neighbour, or in a lawsuit, or in a religious controversy, especially when he finds he is in the wrong; and indeed, if he is in the right, when he perceives it is like to issue in no good, and is only about words to no profit, it is an honour to drop it;

but every fool will be meddling; with things he has no concern in, or is not equal to; yet will carry on the debate, though it is to his disgrace; see Proverbs 17:14.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Meddling - See Proverbs 17:14 note.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 20:3. It is an honour for a man — The same sentiment as Proverbs 19:11.


 
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