רִיב

And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.

And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? Massah: that is, Temptation Meribah: that is, Chiding, or, Strife

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: speak: Heb. answer

Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause.

Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.

How can I myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife?

If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;

And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried: word: Heb. mouth

If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand. deliver: Heb. judge

And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. came: Heb. to come

Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of the Levites, and of the priests, and of the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.

And what cause soever shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass.

Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.

I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;

Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.

Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. ungodly: or, unmerciful the deceitful: Heb. a man of deceit and iniquity

Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.

Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. sacrifices: or, good cheer

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

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

He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another: a secret: or, the secret of

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. meddleth: or, is enraged

As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.

Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. they that strive: Heb. the men of thy strife

Produce your cause, saith the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob. Produce: Heb. Cause to come near

Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. ye shall: or, ye fast not as this day

But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.

A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.

To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not. approveth not: or, seeth not

O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow my sabbaths.

Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. punish: Heb. visit upon

Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.

I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.

Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.