It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Parallel translations
- WEB It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.
- BSB It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
- NKJV It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.
- NASB Avoiding strife is an honor for a person, But any fool will quarrel.
- NLT Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Avoiding strife is honorable; only fools love to quarrel. It is a mark of dignity to keep clear of needless conflict.
Overview
This proverb declares it an honor for a person to keep aloof from strife, while every fool is quick to quarrel. It elevates peaceableness as a sign of true dignity and wisdom. The teaching anticipates Jesus' blessing on peacemakers (Matt. 5:9) and Paul's call to live at peace with all as far as it depends on us (Rom. 12:18), reflecting the reconciling heart of the gospel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Prov 16:32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
- Prov 17:14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
- Prov 19:11The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
- Prov 18:6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
- Eph 4:32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
- Prov 14:29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
- Jas 4:1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
- Prov 21:24Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
- Eph 1:6–8To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
- Jas 3:14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
- Prov 14:17He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
- 2 Kgs 14:9And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
- Prov 25:8–10Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 20:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.