Contemplative Bible Reading

Proverbs 17:9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,
but whoever gossips about it separates friends.

Offenses are committed daily. Some persons seem to offend others all the time. What is a good Christian to do?

I can gossip about the offense, i.e., I can sort of tell the truth of about it, maybe not the whole truth, and maybe embellish parts I wish. That separates friends. Well, if there are true friends, what I say won’t hurt them. Right? Uh, er, well…

I can conceal the offense. Let’s hide the dirt. No, I don’t think that it what is meant here in these words. I think it means to do the opposite of gossip. Everybody knows the offense was committed. I can’t add to what everyone knows. Just keep my mouth shut and not amplify the offense.

Funny, the thing to do is do no thing. Why is doing no thing so difficult?