Proverbs 17:14

He that letteth (out) water, is the head of strives, ( or of arguments); and before that he suffereth wrong, he forsaketh doom (or he deserteth judgement).

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

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

In Context

13Evil shall not go away from the house of him, that yieldeth evils for goods (or who giveth evil for good).

15Both he that justifieth a wicked man, and he that condemneth a just man, ever either is abominable to God. (Both he who justifieth a wicked person, and he who condemneth a righteous person, be abominable to God.)

Read all of Proverbs 17

Cross References

Genesis 13:8Therefore Abram said to Lot, I beseech thee, that no strife be betwixt me and thee, and betwixt my shepherds and thy shepherds; for we be brethren (or for we be kinsmen).

Judges 12:1And, lo! dissension (a)rose in Ephraim; for they, that passed toward the north (or who crossed over to Zaphon), said to Jephthah, Why wentest thou to battle against the sons of Ammon, and wouldest not call us, (so) that we should go with thee. Therefore we shall burn (down) thine house.

2 Samuel 2:17And full hard battle rose in that day; and Abner and the sons of Israel were driven (away) of the servants of David. (And a hard fought battle arose that day; and Abner and the men of Israel were driven back by David’s men.)

2 Chronicles 10:14and he spake by the will of the young men, (and said), My father putted on you a grievous yoke, which I shall make grievouser; my father beat you with scourges, soothly I shall beat you with scorpions.

2 Chronicles 25:17Therefore Amaziah, the king of Judah, when he had taken a full evil counsel, sent to the king of Israel, Jehoash + 25:17 Also known as Joash., the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, and said, Come thou, and see we us together. (And so Amaziah, the king of Judah, when he had taken very evil counsel, sent to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, the king of Israel, and said, Come thou, and see we each other in battle.)

Proverbs 13:10Strives be ever among proud men; but they that do all things with counsel, be governed by wisdom. (There is always strife, or arguments, among the proud; but they who do all things with advice, be governed by wisdom.)

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 17:14

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. A malicious mischievous man is here represented, 1. As ungrateful to his friends. He oftentimes is so absurd and insensible of kindnesses done him that he renders evil for good. David met with those that were his adversaries for his love, Ps. cix. 4 . To render evil for evil is brutish, but to render evil for good is devilish. He is an ill-natured man who, because he is resolved not to return a kindness, will revenge it. 2. As therein unkind… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Proverbs 17:14