But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, ¹  quarrels, and fights about the law, ²  because they are useless and empty.

“Listen to me in silence, you coastlands! ¹  Let the nations find renewed strength! Let them approach and then speak; let us come together for debate! ² 

But how can I alone bear up under the burden of your hardship and strife?

Will you speak wickedly ¹  on God’s behalf? ²  Will you speak deceitfully for him?

With pride ¹  comes only ²  contention, but wisdom is with the well-advised. ³ 

Do everything without grumbling or arguing,

So there were quarrels ¹  between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen. ²  (Now the Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time.) ³ 

Now I was paying you close attention, ¹  yet ²  there was no one proving Job wrong, ³  not one of you was answering his statements!

If anyone intends to quarrel about this, we have no other practice, nor do the churches of God.

So I want the men ¹  to pray ²  in every place, lifting up holy hands ³  without anger or dispute.

he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in controversies and verbal disputes. This gives rise to envy, dissension, slanders, evil suspicions,

O Timothy, protect what has been entrusted to you. Avoid ¹  the profane chatter and absurdities ²  of so-called “knowledge.” ³ 

For people ¹  swear by something greater than themselves, ²  and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute. ³ 

Then two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him.

Do you intend to criticize mere words, and treat ¹  the words of a despairing man as wind?

“How much less, ¹  then, can I answer him ²  and choose my words ³  to argue ⁴  with ⁵  him! ⁶ 

But if only God would speak, ¹  if only he would open his lips against you, ² 

But I wish to speak ¹  to the Almighty, ²  and I desire to argue ³  my case ⁴  with God.

Who ¹  will contend with me? If anyone can, I will be silent and die. ² 

“How long until you ¹  make an end of words? ²  You must consider, ³  and then ⁴  we can talk.