רִיב

There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites lived in the land at that time.

He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, “Is Yahweh among us, or not?”

“You shall not follow a crowd to do evil. You shall not testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice.

You shall not favor a poor man in his cause.

“You shall not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.

How can I myself alone bear your problems, your burdens, and your strife?

If there arises a matter too hard for you in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within your gates, then you shall arise, and go up to the place which Yahweh your God chooses.

then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who shall be in those days;

The priests the sons of Levi shall come near, for them Yahweh your God has chosen to minister to him, and to bless in Yahweh’s name; and according to their word shall every controversy and every assault be decided.

If there is a controversy between men, and they come to judgment and the judges judge them, then they shall justify the righteous and condemn the wicked.

Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, you didn’t save me out of their hand.

May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand.”

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed is Yahweh, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil. Yahweh has returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head.” David sent and spoke concerning Abigail, to take her to himself as wife.

Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate. When any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, “What city are you from?” He said, “Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.”

Absalom said moreover, “Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who has any suit or cause might come to me, and I would do him justice!”

You also have delivered me from the strivings of my people. You have kept me to be the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known will serve me.

Moreover in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed Levites and priests, and of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of Yahweh, and for controversies. They returned to Jerusalem.

Whenever any controversy comes to you from your brothers who dwell in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you must warn them, that they not be guilty toward Yahweh, and so wrath come on you and on your brothers. Do this, and you will not be guilty.

Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.

I was a father to the needy. I researched the cause of him who I didn’t know.

“If I have despised the cause of my male servant or of my female servant, when they contended with me,

oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me! Let the accuser write my indictment!

You have delivered me from the strivings of the people. You have made me the head of the nations. A people whom I have not known shall serve me.

In the shelter of your presence you will hide them from the plotting of man. You will keep them secretly in a dwelling away from the strife of tongues.

Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!

Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.

Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Arise, God! Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.

Plead my cause, and redeem me! Revive me according to your promise.

A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife.

Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.

The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.

He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.

for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.

Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another,

Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood; so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”

Your princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. Everyone loves bribes and follows after rewards. They don’t defend the fatherless, neither does the cause of the widow come to them.

For Yahweh has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

Behold, all those who are incensed against you will be disappointed and confounded. Those who strive with you will be like nothing, and shall perish.

Produce your cause,” says Yahweh. “Bring out your strong reasons!” says the King of Jacob.

Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wickedness. You don’t fast today so as to make your voice to be heard on high.

But, Yahweh of Armies, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I will see your vengeance on them; for to you I have revealed my cause.

Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife, and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet every one of them curses me.

But Yahweh of Armies, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for I have revealed my cause to you.

A noise will come even to the end of the earth; for Yahweh has a controversy with the nations. He will enter into judgment with all flesh. As for the wicked, he will give them to the sword,” ’ says Yahweh.”