Proverbs 17:9 (DRB)

Passage

He that concealeth a transgression, seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:7 Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.

Proverbs 17:8 The expectation of him that expecteth is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.

Proverbs 17:9 He that concealeth a transgression, seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.

Proverbs 17:10 A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.

Proverbs 17:11 An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "concealeth", "transgression", "seeketh", "friendships", "repeateth", "again", and "separateth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "concealeth" and "transgression", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "The expectation of him that expecteth is..." into verse 10's "A reproof availeth more with a wise...", so "concealeth" and "transgression" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "concealeth" and "transgression" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.