[和合本] 纷争的起头如水放开，所以在争闹之先，必当止息争竞。
[新标点] 纷争的起头如水放开，所以，在争闹之先必当止息争竞。
[和合修] 纷争掀起，如同缺口的水；因此，争端尚未爆发就当制止。
[新译本] 纷争的开始，如同决堤的水；所以在争执发生以前，就要制止。
[当代修] 争端爆发如洪水决堤， 当在爆发前将其制止。
[现代修] 争论的开始如水决堤，先行制止才不至于泛滥。
[吕振中] 纷争之起点如放水（七十子点窜作：大放厥词乃纷争之起点）；故争吵尚未暴发，先要放弃。
[思高本] 争论的开端，如水之破堤；在激辩之前，应极加制止。
[文理本] 衅端之起、如水溃决、宜先弭之、以免争鬬、
[GNT] The start of an argument is like the first break in a dam; stop it before it goes any further.
[BBE] The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
[KJV] The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
[NKJV] The beginning of strife [is like] releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
[KJ21] The beginning of strife is like the letting out of water: therefore break off contention before it is meddled with.
[NASB] The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
[NRSV] The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so stop before the quarrel breaks out.
[WEB] The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
[ESV] The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
[NIV] Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
[NIrV] Starting to argue is like making a crack in a dam. So drop the matter before a fight breaks out.
[HCSB] To start a conflict is to release a flood; stop the dispute before it breaks out.
[CSB] To start a conflict is to release a flood; stop the dispute before it breaks out.
[AMP] The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles [from a crack in a dam]; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out.
[NLT] Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.
[YLT] The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.