¹⁴ Abner said to Joab, Please let the young men arise and play before us. Joab said, Let them arise.

¹⁷ The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

²⁶ Then Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don't you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you bid the people return from following their brothers?"

²⁷ Joab said, As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed everyone his brother.

²³ It is a fool's pleasure to do wickedness, But wisdom is a man of understanding's pleasure.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, Therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice; By wise guidance you wage war!

⁸ Don't be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

¹⁸ Like a madman who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,

¹⁹ Is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "Am I not joking?"