A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.
Parallel translations
- WEB One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
- KJV A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
- BSB A gossip reveals a secret, but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
- NKJV A talebearer reveals secrets, But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
- NASB One who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, But one who is trustworthy conceals a matter.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A gossip betrays confidences, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. Faithfulness is shown in guarding what others entrust to us.
Overview
This proverb distinguishes the talebearer who spreads what should be kept private from the dependable person who protects a confidence. Trustworthiness with words is essential to wisdom and friendship. Such faithfulness reflects the character of God, who keeps covenant, and adorns the integrity His people are called to in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 20:19He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
- Lev 19:16“‘You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people. “‘You shall not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am Yahweh.
- Prov 25:9Debate your case with your neighbor, and don’t betray the confidence of another;
- 1 Tim 5:13Besides, they also learn to be idle, going about from house to house. Not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
- Prov 26:20–22For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
- Josh 2:14The men said to her, “Our life for yours, if you don’t talk about this business of ours; and it shall be, when Yahweh gives us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”
- Prov 14:5A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
- Josh 2:20But if you talk about this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless of your oath which you’ve made us to swear.”
- Jer 38:27Then came all the princes to Jeremiah, and asked him; and he told them according to all these words that the king had commanded. So they stopped speaking with him; for the matter was not perceived.
- Neh 6:17–19Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters came to them.
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 11:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.