do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse warns against rushing into conflict, not just because you might lose, but because defeat can leave you so shamed and lost, you won't even know how to recover or what to do next. It's a reminder that a hasty accusation can backfire, turning your righteous anger into utter humiliation when you're proven wrong by the very neighbor you attacked.
do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings in Proverbs, often contrasting foolish actions with wise ones. It follows warnings about boasting and speaking ill of rulers, and precedes advice on resolving disputes privately. The focus is on the practical consequences of acting impulsively in conflicts with neighbors, particularly when entering into a legal or public dispute.
Ever feel the urge to immediately confront someone who wronged you? This verse offers a stark warning about jumping into conflict without careful thought.
Proverbs advises us to resist the impulse to rush into legal battles or intense disputes. The Hebrew word for 'strive' here can refer to a legal case, but also any kind of serious contention or quarrel. The core message is about the danger of haste. Before you bring your neighbor to court, or even into a heated argument, pause and consider:
What's worse than being wrong? Being publicly proven wrong after a bitter fight. This proverb points to the deep humiliation that can follow hasty conflict.
The latter part of the verse reveals the painful consequence of rushing into conflict: being put to shame. This isn't just mild embarrassment; it's a profound sense of disgrace and defeat. When you hastily engage in a dispute, especially a legal one, and you are proven wrong:
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Understand the original words
rib · Hebrew Noun
The act of appearing before a judge or official body to settle a dispute; in biblical usage, it represents a formal setting for justice, which should be avoided if private reconciliation is possible.
rea · Hebrew Noun
A person who lives nearby; in the context of wisdom literature, it signifies an associate or fellow member of the community with whom one maintains a relationship that requires truth, integrity, and preservation of confidentiality.
kelimmah · Hebrew Noun
A state of disgrace, dishonor, or humiliation; in Scripture, this is often the result of foolish behavior, betrayal, or being exposed in wrongdoing, standing in contrast to the honor that comes from godly wisdom.
Jesus warns against rushing into conflict without counting the cost, echoing the same practical wisdom about the potential for shame and loss after a hasty decision.
Matthew 18:15This passage offers a direct contrast by advocating for private reconciliation before any public dispute, highlighting the folly of Proverbs 25:8's hasty approach.
Romans 12:18Paul encourages living peaceably with all, underscoring the wisdom of avoiding unnecessary conflict and potential shame that Proverbs 25:8 warns against.
1 Corinthians 6:1-7Paul rebukes believers for taking each other to secular courts, reinforcing the idea that such public disputes often lead to shame and are best avoided through internal resolution.
pooleProverbs 25:8: "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."
Go not forth hastily, without necessary cause and due consideration, to strive, either judicially or otherwise. Put thee to shame, for thy folly in undertaking what thou wast not able to accomplish, and for thy injustice in charging him wrongfully.
gillProverbs 25:8: "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."
Go not forth hastily to strive,.... 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…
The verse warns against rushing into conflict, not just because you might lose, but because defeat can leave you so shamed and lost, you won't even know how to recover or what to do next. It's a reminder that a hasty accusation can backfire, turning your righteous anger into utter humiliation when you're proven wrong by the very neighbor you attacked.
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings in Proverbs, often contrasting foolish actions with wise ones. It follows warnings about boasting and speaking ill of rulers, and precedes advice on resolving disputes privately. The focus is on the practical consequences of acting impulsively in conflicts with neighbors, particularly when entering into a legal or public dispute.
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings in Proverbs, often contrasting foolish actions with wise ones. It follows warnings about boasting and speaking ill of rulers, and precedes advice on resolving disputes privately. The focus is on the practical consequences of acting impulsively in conflicts with neighbors, particularly when entering into a legal or public dispute.
"do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?" — The verse warns against rushing into conflict, not just because you might lose, but because defeat can leave you so shamed and lost, you won't even know how to recover or what to do next. It's a remi…
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Last reviewed October 2026