17
Love your friend and keep faith with him; but if you betray his secrets, do not run after him.
18
For as a man destroys his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.
19
And as you allow a bird to escape from your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and will not catch him again.
20
Do not go after him, for he is too far off, and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.
21
For a wound may be bandaged, and there is reconciliation after abuse, but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.