KJV ORIGINAL
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.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Don't rush into a fight or argument, because you might not know what to do when it's over and your neighbor has embarrassed you.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse warns against jumping quickly into conflicts because you might end up looking foolish and not knowing how to handle the consequences.
📚 Historical Context
This proverb comes from a collection of wise sayings attributed to King Solomon, written during Israel's golden age when wisdom literature was highly valued. In ancient Middle Eastern culture, public disputes were often settled before community elders or in public forums, making the shame of losing an argument particularly damaging to one's reputation and social standing.
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