And Abram
said
unto Lot,
Let there be
no strife,
I pray thee,
between me and thee,
and
between my herdmen
and thy herdmen;
for we
be brethren.
So he
sent
his brethren away,
and
they departed:
and
he said unto them,
See that
ye fall not out
by the way.
How can
I myself alone
bear your cumbrance,
and your burden,
and your strife?
Thou shalt hide them
in the secret
of thy presence
from the pride
of man:
thou shalt keep them
secretly in a pavilion
from the strife
of tongues.
Destroy,
O Lord,
and divide
their tongues:
for I
have seen violence
and strife
in the city.
Thou makest us
a strife
unto our neighbours:
and our enemies
laugh
among themselves.
Strive
not with a man without cause,
if he
have done thee no harm.
A naughty person,
a wicked man,
walketh with a froward mouth.
He winketh with his eyes,
he speaketh with his feet,
he teacheth with his fingers;
Frowardness
is in his heart,
he deviseth mischief continually;
he soweth discord.
These six things
doth
the LORD hate:
yea,
seven are an abomination
unto him:
A proud look,
a lying tongue,
and hands
that shed innocent blood,
An heart that
deviseth wicked imaginations,
feet
that be swift
in running
to mischief,
A false
witness that
speaketh lies,
and he
that soweth discord
among brethren.
Hatred
stirreth up strifes:
but love
covereth all sins.
Only by pride
cometh contention:
but with the well advised
is wisdom.
A wrathful man
stirreth up strife:
but
he that is slow
to anger
appeaseth strife.
A froward man
soweth strife:
and a whisperer
separateth chief friends.
Better is a dry morsel,
and quietness
therewith,
than an house
full of sacrifices
with strife.
The beginning
of strife
is as when
one letteth out water:
therefore leave off
contention,
before it
be meddled with.
He loveth transgression
that loveth strife:
and
he that
exalteth
his gate
seeketh destruction.
A fool's lips
enter
into contention,
and his mouth calleth
for strokes.
A foolish son
is the calamity
of his father:
and
the contentions
of a wife
are a continual dropping.
It is an honour
for a man
to cease
from strife:
but every fool
will be meddling.
It is
better
to dwell
in the wilderness,
than with a contentious
and an angry woman.
Cast
out the scorner,
and contention
shall go out;
yea,
strife
and reproach
shall cease.
Who hath woe?
who hath sorrow?
who hath
contentions?
who hath babbling?
who hath
wounds without cause?
who hath redness
of eyes?
They that
tarry long
at the wine;
they that
go
to seek mixed wine.
Go not forth
hastily to strive,
lest
thou know not
what
to do
in the end thereof,
when thy neighbour
hath put thee
to shame.
It is
better
to dwell
in the corner
of the housetop,
than with a brawling woman
and
in a wide house.
He that passeth by,
and meddleth with strife
belonging not
to him,
is like one
that taketh
a dog
by the ears.
Where no wood is,
there
the fire
goeth out:
so where
there is
no talebearer,
the strife ceaseth.
As coals
are to burning coals,
and wood to fire;
so is a contentious man
to kindle strife.
A continual dropping
in a
very rainy day and a
contentious woman
are alike.
He that is
of a proud heart
stirreth up strife:
but he
that putteth
his trust
in the LORD
shall be made fat.
An angry man
stirreth up strife,
and a furious man
aboundeth in transgression.
Surely the churning
of milk
bringeth forth butter,
and the wringing
of the nose
bringeth forth blood:
so the forcing
of wrath
bringeth forth strife.
Thy pomp
is brought down
to the grave,
and the noise
of thy viols:
the worm
is spread
under thee,
and the worms
cover thee.
How art
thou fallen
from heaven,
O Lucifer,
son
of the morning!
how art
thou cut down
to the ground,
which didst weaken
the nations!
Behold,
ye fast
for strife
and debate,
and
to smite
with the fist
of wickedness:
ye shall not fast as ye
do
this day,
to make
your voice
to be heard
on high.
Why dost thou
shew me iniquity,
and cause me
to behold grievance?
for spoiling
and violence
are
before me:
and there are that raise
up strife
and contention.
Agree with thine
adversary quickly,
whiles
thou art
in the way
with him;
lest at any
time the adversary
deliver thee
to the judge,
and the judge
deliver thee
to the officer,
and
thou be cast
into prison.
But
I say unto you,
That ye
resist not evil:
but whosoever
shall smite
thee on thy
right cheek,
turn
to him the other also.
And
if any man
will sue thee
at the law,
and take away
thy coat,
let him
have
thy cloak also.
And whosoever
shall compel thee to go
a mile,
go with him twain.
Think not
that I
am come
to send peace
on earth:
I came not
to send peace,
but a sword.
For I
am come
to set a man
at variance
against his father,
and the daughter
against her mother,
and the daughter
in law
against her mother
in law.
And a man's foes
shall be
they
of his own household.
And Jesus
knew their thoughts,
and
said unto them,
Every kingdom
divided
against itself
is brought
to desolation;
and every city
or house
divided
against itself
shall not stand:
Moreover if thy brother
shall trespass
against thee,
go and tell him
his fault
between thee
and him alone:
if he
shall hear thee,
thou hast gained
thy brother.
But
if he
will not hear thee,
then take
with thee one
or two more,
that in the mouth
of two
or three witnesses every word
may be established.
And
if he
shall neglect
to hear them,
tell it
unto the church:
but
if he
neglect
to hear the church,
let him
be unto thee
as an heathen man
and a publican.
And
if a kingdom
be divided
against itself,
that kingdom
cannot stand.
And
if a house
be divided
against itself,
that house
cannot stand.
Suppose
ye that
I am come
to give peace
on earth?
I tell you,
Nay;
but rather division:
For from henceforth there shall be
five
in one house divided,
three against two,
and two
against three.
The father
shall be divided
against the son,
and the son
against the father;
the mother
against the daughter,
and the daughter
against the mother;
the mother
in law
against her daughter
in law,
and the daughter
in law
against her mother
in law.
When
thou goest
with thine adversary
to the magistrate,
as thou art
in the way,
give diligence
that thou
mayest be delivered from him;
lest
he hale thee
to the judge,
and the judge
deliver thee
to the officer,
and the officer
cast thee
into prison.
I tell thee,
thou shalt not depart
thence,
till thou
hast paid
the very last mite.
But unto them that
are contentious,
and do not obey
the truth,
but obey
unrighteousness,
indignation
and wrath,
If it
be possible,
as much as
lieth in you,
live peaceably
with all men.
Let us
walk honestly,
as in the day;
not in rioting
and drunkenness,
not in chambering
and wantonness,
not in strife
and envying.
Him that is weak
in the faith
receive ye,
but not to doubtful disputations.
Let us
therefore follow
after the things
which make
for peace,
and things
wherewith one
may edify another.
It is good neither
to eat flesh,
nor to drink wine,
nor any thing
whereby
thy brother stumbleth,
or is offended,
or is made weak.
Now
I beseech you,
brethren,
mark them
which cause divisions
and offences contrary
to the doctrine
which ye
have learned;
and avoid them.
For they
that are
such serve not
our Lord Jesus Christ,
but their own belly;
and by good words
and fair speeches
deceive the hearts
of the simple.
Now
I beseech you,
brethren,
by the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye
all speak
the same thing,
and
that there be no divisions
among you;
but that
ye be perfectly joined together
in the same mind
and in the same judgment.
For it
hath been declared
unto me
of you,
my brethren,
by them
which are of the house
of Chloe,
that there are contentions
among you.
Now this
I say,
that every one
of you saith,
I am of Paul;
and I of Apollos;
and I of Cephas;
and I of Christ.
Is Christ divided?
was Paul
crucified
for you?
or were
ye baptized
in the name
of Paul?
And I,
brethren,
could not speak
unto you as
unto spiritual,
but
as unto carnal,
even as unto babes
in Christ.
For ye
are yet carnal:
for whereas
there is
among you envying,
and strife,
and divisions,
are
ye not carnal,
and walk
as men?
For while
one saith,
I am of Paul;
and another,
I am of Apollos;
are ye not carnal?
And these things,
brethren,
I have
in a figure transferred
to myself
and to Apollos
for your sakes;
that ye
might learn
in us not
to think of men
above that which
is written,
that no one
of you
be puffed up
for one
against another.
For who
maketh thee
to differ
from another?
and
what hast
thou
that thou
didst not receive?
now
if thou
didst receive it,
why dost
thou glory,
as if
thou hadst
not received it?
Dare any of you,
having a matter
against another,
go to law
before the unjust,
and
not before the saints?
Do ye
not know
that the saints
shall judge
the world?
and if the world
shall be judged
by you,
are
ye unworthy
to judge
the smallest matters?
Know
ye not
that we
shall judge
angels?
how much more
things that
pertain
to this life?
If then
ye have judgments
of things
pertaining
to this life,
set them to judge
who are least
esteemed
in the church.
I speak
to your shame.
Is it so,
that there is not
a wise man
among you?
no,
not one that
shall be able
to judge
between his brethren?
But brother
goeth to law
with brother,
and
that before the unbelievers.
Now therefore there is utterly
a fault
among you,
because
ye go
to law one
with another.
Why do
ye not rather take wrong?
why do
ye not rather suffer yourselves
to be defrauded?
But if any man
seem
to be contentious,
we have
no such custom,
neither the churches
of God.
Now in this
that
I declare
unto you
I praise you not,
that ye come
together
not for the better,
but for the worse.
For first of all,
when
ye come together
in the church,
I hear
that there be divisions
among you;
and
I partly believe it.
For there must be also heresies
among you,
that they which
are approved
may be made
manifest
among you.
For I fear,
lest,
when I come,
I shall not find you
such as
I would,
and that
I shall be found
unto you
such as
ye would not:
lest there be debates,
envyings,
wraths,
strifes,
backbitings,
whisperings,
swellings,
tumults:
I have confidence
in you
through the Lord,
that ye
will be none otherwise minded:
but he
that troubleth you
shall bear
his judgment,
whosoever he be.
But
if ye
bite
and devour one
another,
take heed that
ye be not consumed one
of another.
Now
the works
of the flesh
are manifest,
which are these;
Adultery,
fornication,
uncleanness,
lasciviousness,
Idolatry,
witchcraft,
hatred,
variance,
emulations,
wrath,
strife,
seditions,
heresies,
Some indeed preach Christ
even of envy
and strife;
and some
also of good will:
The one
preach Christ
of contention,
not sincerely,
supposing
to add affliction
to my bonds:
Let nothing
be done
through strife
or vainglory;
but in lowliness
of mind
let each esteem other better
than themselves.
Do all things
without murmurings
and disputings:
That ye
may be
blameless
and harmless,
the sons of God,
without rebuke,
in the midst
of a crooked
and perverse nation,
among whom
ye shine
as lights
in the world;
Now
the end
of the commandment
is charity
out of a pure heart,
and
of a good conscience,
and
of faith unfeigned:
From which some
having swerved
have turned aside
unto vain jangling;
Desiring
to be teachers
of the law;
understanding neither
what they say,
nor whereof
they affirm.
I will therefore
that men
pray every where,
lifting
up holy hands,
without wrath
and doubting.
A bishop
then must be blameless,
the husband
of one wife,
vigilant,
sober,
of good behaviour,
given
to hospitality,
apt to teach;
Not given
to wine,
no striker,
not greedy
of filthy lucre;
but patient,
not a brawler,
not covetous;
If any man
teach otherwise,
and consent not
to wholesome words,
even the words
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and
to the doctrine
which is according to
godliness;
He is proud,
knowing nothing,
but doting
about questions
and strifes
of words,
whereof cometh envy,
strife,
railings,
evil surmisings,
Perverse disputings
of men
of corrupt minds,
and destitute
of the truth,
supposing
that gain
is godliness:
from such
withdraw thyself.
O Timothy,
keep that
which is committed
to thy trust,
avoiding profane
and vain babblings,
and oppositions
of science falsely so called:
Which some professing
have erred concerning the faith.
Grace be
with thee.
Amen.
Of these things
put them
in remembrance,
charging them
before the Lord
that they strive
not about words
to no profit,
but to the subverting
of the hearers.
But foolish
and unlearned questions avoid,
knowing that
they do gender
strifes.
And the servant
of the Lord
must not strive;
but be gentle
unto all men,
apt to teach,
patient,
In meekness
instructing
those that
oppose themselves;
if God peradventure
will give them repentance
to the acknowledging
of the truth;
Put them in mind
to be subject to principalities
and powers,
to obey magistrates,
to be ready
to every good work,
To speak evil
of no man,
to be no brawlers,
but gentle,
shewing all meekness
unto all men.
For we ourselves
also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient,
deceived,
serving divers
lusts
and pleasures,
living in malice
and envy,
hateful,
and hating one
another.
But avoid
foolish questions,
and genealogies,
and contentions,
and strivings
about the law;
for they
are unprofitable
and vain.
But
if ye
have bitter envying
and strife
in your hearts,
glory not,
and lie not
against the truth.
This wisdom
descendeth not
from above,
but is earthly,
sensual,
devilish.
For where
envying
and strife is,
there is confusion
and every evil work.
From whence come
wars
and fightings
among you?
come
they not hence,
even of your lusts
that war
in your members?
Ye lust,
and have not:
ye kill,
and desire
to have,
and cannot obtain:
ye fight and war,
yet ye
have not,
because
ye ask not.