# Proverbs 17.14 **Book:** [Proverbs](/codex/proverbs/) · ASV / WEB / KJV / YLT ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. 13. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house. > > **14. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.** > > 15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah. 16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding? (Proverbs 17:12-16, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 12. Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. 13. Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. > > **14. The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.** > > 15. He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh. 16. Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding? (Proverbs 17:12-16, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. 13. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. > > **14. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.** > > 15. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. 16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? (Proverbs 17:12-16, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 12. The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And, not a fool in his folly. 13. Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house. > > **14. The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.** > > 15. Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah. 16. Why [is] this, a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none? (Proverbs 17:12-16, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** Solomon (principal); Agur; Lemuel; wise men - **Audience:** young Israelite men in the wisdom tradition - **Location:** Israel, Solomonic court - **Time period:** principal composition c. 970-930 BC (Solomon); compilation c. 700 BC (Hezekiah) ## Theological reading ## Key words - [H7225 - reshit](/codex/h7225-reshit/), *reshit* (Strong's H7225). Also appears in: [Genesis 1.1](/codex/genesis-1-1/), [Deuteronomy 21](/codex/deuteronomy-21/), [1 Samuel 15](/codex/1-samuel-15/). ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses. ## Quoted in **Concepts:** - [Spirit of Strife](/codex/spirit-of-strife/)