Proverbs 17:14-16

The Message

¹⁴ The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,
    so stop it before it bursts.

¹⁵ Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people
    are equally abhorrent to God.

¹⁶ What’s this? Fools out shopping for wisdom!
    They wouldn’t recognize it if they saw it!