Proverbs 25:9

9 If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence,

Proverbs 25:9 in Other Translations

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

9 Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret,

9 When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret.

9 In the heat of an argument, don't betray confidences;

9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself], And disclose not the secret of another;

9 Present your argument to your neighbor, but do not reveal another person's secret.

9 Make your case with your opponent without revealing another's secret;

9 If you talk about a matter with your neighbor, don't tell others what was said.

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 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. What you have seen with your eyes

8 do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?

9 If you take your neighbor to court, do not betray another’s confidence,

10 or the one who hears it may shame you and the charge against you will stand.

11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a ruling rightly given.