Proverbs 20:3
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
- KJV
- It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
- WEB
- It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
- ASV
- It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
- DARBY
- It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.
- BLB
- An honor to a man is cessation from strife, and every fool will quarrel.
- ÅB
- Det er en ære for en mann at han holder seg borte fra trette, men enhver dåre viser tenner.
- OTB
- Å unngå strid er en ære for en person, men enhver dåre er snar til å krangle.
- B1930
- Det er en ære for en mann at han holder sig borte fra trette, men enhver dåre viser tenner.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Proverbs 16:32
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Read in contextProverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Read in contextProverbs 19:11
The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Read in contextEphesians 4:32–5:1
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Read in contextProverbs 14:29
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Read in contextProverbs 18:6
A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
Read in contextJames 4:1
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Read in contextJames 3:14
But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
Read in context