Proverbs 20:3
New International Version
It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

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

English Standard Version
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

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

King James Bible
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

New King James Version
It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.

New American Standard Bible
Avoiding strife is an honor for a person, But any fool will quarrel.

NASB 1995
Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel.

NASB 1977
Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel.

Legacy Standard Bible
It is a glory for a man to cease quarreling, But any ignorant fool will break out in dispute.

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].

Christian Standard Bible
Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

American Standard Version
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
It is the glory of a man whenever he separates a dispute, and every fool mocks it.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
It is a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.

Contemporary English Version
It makes you look good when you avoid a fight--only fools love to quarrel.

Douay-Rheims Bible
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.

English Revised Version
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Avoiding a quarrel is honorable. After all, any stubborn fool can start a fight.

Good News Translation
Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them.

International Standard Version
Avoiding strife brings a man honor, but every fool is quarrelsome.

JPS Tanakh 1917
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be snarling.

Literal Standard Version
Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, | And every fool interferes.

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

New American Bible
A person gains honor by avoiding strife, while every fool starts a quarrel.

NET Bible
It is an honor for a person to cease from strife, but every fool quarrels.

New Revised Standard Version
It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

New Heart English Bible
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.

Webster's Bible Translation
It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

World English Bible
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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Wine is a Mocker
2The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life. 3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel. 4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.…

Cross References
Genesis 13:7
And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land.

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.

Proverbs 17:14
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.


Treasury of Scripture

It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

an

Proverbs 14:29
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

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.

Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

but

Proverbs 14:17
He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

Proverbs 18:6
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

Proverbs 21:24
Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

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Aloof Avoid Cease Cessation Fighting Fool Foolish Honor Honour Intermeddleth Keeping Meddling Quarrel Quarreling Quarrelling Quick Rusheth Snarling Strife War
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Aloof Avoid Cease Cessation Fighting Fool Foolish Honor Honour Intermeddleth Keeping Meddling Quarrel Quarreling Quarrelling Quick Rusheth Snarling Strife War
Proverbs 20
1. Proper Living














(3) But every fool.--Self-willed person. (Comp. Proverbs 1:22.)

Will be meddling.--Or, rather, shewing his teeth: (Comp. Proverbs 17:14) thinking that his own personal dignity is at stake.

Verse 3. - It is an honour to a man to cease from strife; or better, as Delitzsch and others, to remain far from strife. A prudent man will not only abstain from causing quarrel, but will hold himself aloof from all contention, and thus will have due care for his own honour and dignity. How different is this from the modern cede, which makes a man's honour consist in his readiness to avenge fancied injury at the risk of his own or his neighbour's life! Septuagint, "It is a glory to a man to hold himself aloof from revilings." Every fool will be meddling (see on Proverbs 17:14; 18:1). Delitzsch, "Whoever is a fool showeth his teeth," finds pleasure in strife. Septuagint, "Every fool involves himself in such," as in ver. 1.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
It is honorable
כָּב֣וֹד (kā·ḇō·wḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3519: Weight, splendor, copiousness

for a man
לָ֭אִישׁ (lā·’îš)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

to resolve
שֶׁ֣בֶת (še·ḇeṯ)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7674: Rest, interruption, cessation

a dispute,
מֵרִ֑יב (mê·rîḇ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7379: Strife, dispute

but any
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

fool
אֱ֝וִ֗יל (’ĕ·wîl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 191: Foolish

will quarrel.
יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃ (yiṯ·gal·lā‘)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1566: To expose, lay bare


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 20:3 It is an honor for a man (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 20:2
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