He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

As he that taketh a dog by the ears, so is he that passeth by in anger, and meddleth with another man's quarrel.

He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

Laying hold on the ears of a dog, Is a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.

He that passes by, and meddles with strife belonging not to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears.

He who gets mixed up in a fight which is not his business, is like one who takes a dog by the ears while it is going by.

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife not his own, Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.

He that passeth by - This proverb stands true ninety-nine times out of a hundred, where people meddle with domestic broils, or differences between men and their wives.

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him,.... One that going along the streets, and passing by the door, where two or more persons are quarrelling, and he thrusts himself in and intermeddles in the affair he has no concern in; and interests himself in the cause of the quarrel he has nothing to do with, on account of acquaintance, relation, or office; and especially when, instead of being a mediator and peacemaker, he takes on one side, and acts the angry part, as Aben Ezra interprets the word rendered "meddleth"; blows things up into a greater flame, and enrages the one against the other. Such a man
is like one that taketh a dog by the ears; which are short, and difficult to be held, and tender; and therefore cannot bear to be held by them, especially to be pulled and lugged by them, and which is very provoking; and as such a man has work enough to do to hold him, so he is in danger of being bitten by him, at least when he is forced to let go his hold: and so it is with a man that interferes in a quarrel in a furious manner; it is much if one or other of the contending parties do not fall upon him and abuse him. The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "as he that holdeth the tail of a dog."

To make ourselves busy in other men's matters, is to thrust ourselves into temptation.

meddleth--as in Proverbs 20:19; Proverbs 24:21; as either holding a dog by the ears or letting him go involves danger, so success in another man's strife or failure involves a useless risk of reputation, does no good, and may do us harm.

A series of proverbs which recommend the love of peace, for they present caricatures of the opposite:
17 He seizeth by the ears of a dog passing by,
Who is excited by a strife which concerns him not.
According to the accentuation in the text, the proverb is to be translated with Fleischer: Qualis est qui prehendit aures canis, talis est qui forte transiens ira abripitur propter rixam alienam (eique temere se immiscent). Since he is cautioned against unwarranted interference, the expression מתערב בּדין might have been used (Proverbs 14:10), according to which the Syr. translates; but על־ריב substantiates the originality of מתעבּר (vid., Proverbs 14:16; Proverbs 20:2). On the other hand, the placing together, without any connection of the two participles, is perplexing; why not עבר וּמתעבּר? For it is certainly not meant, that falling into a passion he passes by; but that passing by, he falls into a passion; for he stands to this object. The Targumist, feeling this also, renders עבר in the sense of being angry, but contrary to the usus loq. Wherefore the conjecture of Euchel and Abramsohn commends itself, that עבר belongs to כלב - the figure thereby becomes more distinct. To seize one's own dog by the ear is not dangerous, but it is not advisable to do this with a strange dog. Therefore עבר belongs as a necessary attribute to the dog. The dog accidentally passing by corresponds to the strife to which one stands in no relation (ריב לא־ול, vid., regarding the Makkeph, Baer's Genesis, p. 85, not. 9). Whoever is excited to passion about a strife that does not belong to him, is like one who lays hold by the ears (the lxx arbitrarily: by the tail) of a dog that is passing by - to the one or to the other it happens right when he brings evil upon himself thereby.

He - Who is going upon the way. With strife - In which he is not concerned, nor any way obliged to meddle. That taketh - Exposes himself to needless hazard.