Proverbs 25:9

9 Argue it out with your neighbor, and don't give away someone's secret.

Proverbs 25:9 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 25:9

Debate thy cause with thy neighbour [himself]
Between thee and him alone; lay the matter before him, and hear what he has to say for himself, by which you will better judge of the nature of the cause; try to compromise things, and make up the difference between you, which is much better than to commence a lawsuit; at least such a step should be taken first; see ( Matthew 5:25 ) ; and discover not a secret to another;
if the thing in controversy is a secret, do not acquaint another person with it; keep it among yourselves, if the affair can be made up without bringing it into a court of judicature; besides, by communicating it to others, you may have bad counsel given, and be led to take indirect methods: or, "the secret of another", or, "another secret do not discover" ^F2; if you know anything scandalous and reproachful of your neighbour and his family, you are contending with, which does not concern the cause in hand, do not divulge it, as persons from a spirit of revenge are apt to do, when they are quarrelling or litigating a point with each other.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (rxa dwo) "secretum alterius", Pagninus, Montanus; "arcanum alterius", Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Mercerus, Michaelis, Schultens, so Cocceius, Gejerus; "arcanum aliud", Munster; "alienum", Syriac version.

Proverbs 25:9 In-Context

7 because it is better that he say to you, "Come up here," than to be demoted before a ruler. What your eyes see,

8 don't be quick to quarrel over; what will you do in the future when your neighbor shames you?

9 Argue it out with your neighbor, and don't give away someone's secret.

10 Otherwise, the one who hears it will vilify you; the slander against you will never stop.

11 Words spoken at the right time are like gold apples in a silver setting.