Proverbs 3:30
New International Version
Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm.

New Living Translation
Don’t pick a fight without reason, when no one has done you harm.

English Standard Version
Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.

King James Bible
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

New King James Version
Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

New American Standard Bible
Do not contend with a person for no reason, If he has done you no harm.

NASB 1995
Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

NASB 1977
Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has dealt you no harm.

Amplified Bible
Do not quarrel with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t accuse anyone without cause, when he has done you no harm.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t accuse anyone without cause, when he has done you no harm.

American Standard Version
Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Do not judge with a man by deceit,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.

Contemporary English Version
Don't argue just to be arguing, when you haven't been hurt.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.

English Revised Version
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do not quarrel with a person for no reason if he has not harmed you.

Good News Translation
Don't argue with others for no reason when they have never done you any harm.

International Standard Version
Do not bring a lawsuit against a person for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.

Literal Standard Version
Do not strive with a man without cause, | If he has not done you evil.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.

New American Bible
Do not contend with someone without cause, with one who has done you no harm.

NET Bible
Do not accuse anyone without legitimate cause, if he has not treated you wrongly.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, when no harm has been done to you.

New Heart English Bible
Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

Webster's Bible Translation
Strive not with a man without cause, if he hath done thee no harm.

World English Bible
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

Young's Literal Translation
Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Blessings of Wisdom
29Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you. 30Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm. 31Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;…

Cross References
Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

Proverbs 26:17
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.


Treasury of Scripture

Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done you no harm.

Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Proverbs 18:6
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

Proverbs 25:8,9
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…

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Accuse Cause Contend Evil Harm Law Reason Strive Wrong
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Accuse Cause Contend Evil Harm Law Reason Strive Wrong
Proverbs 3
1. various exhortations
13. The gain of wisdom
27. Exhortation to goodness
33. the different state of the wicked and upright














Verse 30. - The meaning of the precept in this verse is clear. We are nat to strive or quarrel with a man unless he has first given us offence. So Le Clerc, "Nisi injuria prior lacessiverit." The admonition is directed against those who, from spite, jealousy, or other reasons, "stir up strife all the day long" with those who are quiet and peaceable. Strive. The Keri here reads tariv for the Khetib taruv, but without any change of meaning. The verb ruv, from which taruv, is "to strive or contend with the hand and with blows," as in Deuteronomy 33:7; or with words, as in Psalm 103:9 (cf. the Vulgate, ne contendas; and the LXX, μὴ φιλεχθήσης, "Do not exercise enmity," from the unusual φιλεχθρέω. Ruv is here followed by עִם (im), as in Job 9:3; Job 40:2; and Genesis 26:30 Its forensic sense, "to contend with in law," does not strictly apply here, though the precept may be taken as discouraging litigation (Lapide). Without cause (khinnam); LXX., ματήν, equivalent to δωρεάν, in John 15:25; Vulgate, frustra; further explained in the concluding clause (see on Proverbs 1:17). If he have done thee no harm. The phrase, gumal raah, is to bring evil upon any one (Schultens). The verb gamal signifies "to do, to give, to show to any one." Holdea renders, "Surely he will return thee evil," in the sense that unprovoked attack ensures retaliation.]gut this is to ignore the negative force of im-lo, "if not." The verb sometimes means "requiting," but not in the passage before us, nor in Proverbs 11:17; Proverbs 31:12. The Vulgate renders as the Authorized Version, Cum ipse tibi nihil mali fecerit. It is to be remarked that this precept falls below the moral standard of the New Testament teaching (see Matthew 5:39-41; Romans 12:17-21; 1 Corinthians 6:6-8), and of the example of our Lord, of whom it was predicted that "When he was reviled, be reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not" (see Isaiah 53).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

accuse
תָּרִ֣יב (tā·rîḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7378: To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend

a man
אָדָ֣ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

without cause,
חִנָּ֑ם (ḥin·nām)
Adverb
Strong's 2600: Gratis, devoid of cost, reason, advantage

when
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

he has done
גְמָלְךָ֣ (ḡə·mā·lə·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1580: To deal fully or adequately with, deal out to, wean, ripen

you no
לֹ֖א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

harm.
רָעָֽה׃ (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 3:30 Don't strive with a man without cause (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 3:29
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