New Revised Standard Version
Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, the people would have continued to pursue their kinsmen, not stopping until morning.”

Contemporary English Version
Joab shouted back, "I swear by the living God, if you hadn't spoken, my men would have chased their relatives all night!"

New American Bible
Joab replied, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, it would be morning before the people would be stopped from pursuing their brothers.”

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Joab said: As the Lord liveth, if thou hadst spoke sooner, even in the morning the people should have retired from pursuing after their brethren.

And Joab said: As the Lord liveth, if thou hadst spoke sooner, even in the morning the people should have retired from pursuing after their brethren.

2 Samuel 2:14 And Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before us. And Joab answered: Let them rise.

,) which led to the slaughter of twelve young men of each party, and thus provoked the battle. It is probable, that Joab had orders simply to act on the defensive, and would not have attacked the Israelites that day unless compelled; therefore the blame lay upon Abner and Israel.

1 Samuel 25:26 Now therefore, my lord, the Lord liveth, and thy soul liveth, who hath withholden thee from coming to blood, and hath saved thy hand to thee: and now let thy enemies be as Nabal, and all they that seek evil to my lord.

Job 27:2 As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment, and the Almighty, who hath brought my soul to bitterness,

unless

2 Samuel 2:14 And Abner said to Joab: Let the young men rise, and play before us. And Joab answered: Let them rise.

Proverbs 15:1 A mild answer breaketh wrath: but a harsh word stirreth up fury.

Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: and before he suffereth reproach, he forsaketh judgment.

Proverbs 20:18 Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.

Proverbs 25:8 The things which thy eyes have seen, utter not hastily in a quarrel: lest afterward thou mayst not be able to make amends, when thou hast dishonoured thy friend.

Isaiah 47:7 And thou hast said: I shall be a lady for ever: thou hast not laid these things to thy heart, neither hast thou remembered thy latter end.

Luke 14:31,32 Or, what king, about to go to make war against another king, doth not first sit down and think whether he be able, with ten thousand, to meet him that, with twenty thousand, cometh against him? . . .

in the morning [heb] from the morning