פּ֣וֹטֵֽר מַ֭יִם רֵאשִׁ֣ית מָד֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י הִ֝תְגַּלַּ֗ע הָרִ֥יב נְטֽוֹשׁ׃
Jakby rozpętał kto fale, gdy kłótnia się wszczyna, ale zanim wybuchnie zwada, zaniechaj jej.
Rashi on Proverbs
The beginning of strife is like letting out water Whoever commences a quarrel is like one who opens a hole in the stone walls of a water canal, and the water goes out through it, and the hole becomes progressively wider; so does the quarrel constantly escalate.
Rashi on Proverbs
and before you are exposed Before your shame is exposed, abandon the quarrel.