Proverbs 25:8

“Go not forth hastily to strive, etc.] To go to law with a neighbour; think well of it beforehand; consider the nature of the cause, whether right or wrong; or whether it is a matter of such moment as to go to law about; whether it will not be deemed a frivolous and vexatious suit; whether able to bear the expenses of it, and what may probably be the success of it; lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof; for a livelihood, having spent all thy substance in the lawsuit, and so reduced to poverty as not to know how to live, or how and where to show thy face, through the disgrace that shall fall upon time by losing the cause; when that neighbour hath put thee to shame; in open court,…”

“(Compare Pro 3:30). lest . . . shame--lest you do what you ought not, when shamed by defeat, or "lest thou art shut out from doing any thing."”

“The general meaning is: It is dangerous to plunge into litigation. At all times, there is the risk of failure, and, if we fail, of being at the mercy of an irritated adversary. Without the italics, the clause may be rendered, “lest thou do something (i. e., something humiliating and vexatious) at the end thereof.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“hastily: Pro 17:14, Pro 18:6, Pro 30:33; Sa2 2:14-16, Sa2 2:26; Kg2 14:8-12; Luk 14:31, Luk 14:32 what: Pro 14:12; Jer 5:31; Mat 5:25 Proverbs 25:9”

“8 Go not forth hastily to strife, That it may not be said, "What wilt thou do in the end thereof, When now thy neighbour bringeth disgrace upon thee?" 9 Art thou striving with thy neighbour? strive with him, But disclose not the secret of another; 10 That he who heareth it may not despise thee, And thine evil name depart no more. Whether ריב in לריב is infin., as at Jdg 21:22, or subst., as at Ch2 19:8, is not decided: ad litigandum and ad litem harmonize. As little may it be said whether in אל־תּצא \[go not forth\], a going out to the gate (court of justice), or to the place where he is to be met who is to be called to account, is to be thought of; in no respect is the sense metaphorical:…”