Don’t argue with fools

If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet. Proverbs 29:9 (ESV)

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. Proverbs 26:4-5 (ESV)

The value of receiving a rebuke and how to take it

A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. Proverbs 13:1 (ESV)

If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Proverbs 1:23 (ESV)

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, Proverbs 3:11 (ESV)

and you say, "How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!” Proverbs 5:12 (ESV)

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. Proverbs 5:12 (ESV)

Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. Proverbs 13:18 (ESV)

A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent. Proverbs 15:5 (ESV)

There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. Proverbs 15:10 (ESV)

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. Proverbs 15:31-32 (ESV)

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:6 (ESV)

By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom. Proverbs 13:10 (ESV)

Giving a rebuke

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. Proverbs 9:7-9 (ESV)

Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. Proverbs 20:30 (ESV)

but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them. Proverbs 24:25 (ESV)

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Proverbs 27:5 (ESV)

A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. Proverbs 17:10 (ESV)

Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue. Proverbs 28:23 (ESV)

Gentleness in arguing

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)

To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is! Proverbs 15:23 (ESV)

The hot temper

A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. Proverbs 14:17 (ESV)

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. Proverbs 14:29 (ESV)

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. Proverbs 15:18 (ESV)

A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again. Proverbs 19:19 (ESV)

Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare. Proverbs 22:24-25 (ESV)

Wine and fights

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. Proverbs 20:1 (ESV)

Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine. Proverbs 23:29 (ESV)

The man who loves dispute and discord

If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil, put your hand on your mouth. For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife. Proverbs 30:32-33 (ESV)

Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I am only joking!" Proverbs 26:18 (ESV)

Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction. Proverbs 17:19 (ESV)

A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched. Proverbs 28:25 (ESV)

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling. Proverbs 20:3 (ESV)

Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarrelling and abuse will cease. Proverbs 22:10 (ESV)

As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. Proverbs 26:21 (ESV)

with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; Proverbs 6:14 (ESV)

a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 6:19 (ESV)

The value of peace / How discord ruins happiness

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it. Proverbs 15:17 (ESV)

Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife. Proverbs 17:1 (ESV)

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. Proverbs 18:17-18 (ESV)

The lot puts an end to quarrel and decides between powerful contenders. Proverbs 18:18

Bearing with one another

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. Proverbs 10:12 (ESV)

The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult. Proverbs 12:16 (ESV)

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9 (ESV)

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11 (ESV)

If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. Proverbs 17:13-14 (ESV)

Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. Proverbs 20:22 (ESV)

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him. Proverbs 24:17-18 (ESV)

Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done." Proverbs 24:29 (ESV)

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22 (ESV)

A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back. Proverbs 29:11 (ESV)