Proverbs 17:9

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
– Proverbs 17:9

This proverb speaks of the goal or consequence of covering versus repeating. Covering a wrong is not speaking of covering up sin in order to get away with it, but rather the covering of a past wrong in the sense of overlooking it if possible or forgiving it (Proverbs 10:12; 19:11). The goal of doing so is to promote love, reconciliation, and peace. The word for repeateth means to duplicate and some commentators express it as harping. The word for very friends means an intimate friend. Harping on old beefs can spoil relationships of all kinds (Proverbs 16:28).

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