Articles
Proverbs To Live By (17:9)
He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.
There are many proverbs that deal with our speech, how we may do either damage or good with our words. We have all been both the perpetrators and the victims of injurious speech, and it is a bitter pill to swallow when our unguarded comments have hurt someone we care about. This proverb contrasts keeping a matter private versus making it public.
The first clause commends keeping the private mistakes of a friend confidential. While one may have many misguided motives in telling others about a secret transgression – it makes us look important, “in the know,” for example – true concern for the wrongdoer results in our remaining quiet. The second clause points to one of the consequences of gossip – the information we leak may result in hard feelings among those who are friends and might have remained so if the matter hadn’t been divulged.
Some things need to be brought to light and others don’t, and knowing the difference is a matter of wisdom. But may we all accept that our words have great power for harm or profit. Let love for our friends and brethren filter what comes out of our mouths.
