Proverbs 3:30

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

Proverbs 3:30 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 3:30

Strive not with a man without cause,
Either by words, in a wrangling, quarrelsome, and contentious way, for mere trifles; when there is no foundation for it, no just reason given to form a complaint, or pick a quarrel upon; or by deeds, by lawsuits, when there is nothing to proceed upon; or it is so trifling, that it is not worth while to litigate it or contend about: such, who strive either way, are far from following the example of Wisdom or Christ, and from taking his advice, ( Matthew 12:19 ) ( 5:40 ) ; if he have done thee no harm;
no real hurt to thy person, nor injury to thy substance; if he has not abused nor defrauded thee, nor taken any thing from thee by force or fraud, nor withheld from thee what is thy right and due. But otherwise the laws of God and man ought to take place; right may be sought for, and justice should be done.

Proverbs 3:30 In-Context

28 Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while thou art able to do good: for thou knowest not what the next day will bring forth.
29 Devise not evil against thy friend, living near thee and trusting in thee.
30 Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.
31 Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their ways.
32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.