Monite ‘Okatopa 16, 2023
Covering Sins
'Ufi‘ufi angahala
PROVERBS 10:11-12
THE MOUTH OF THE RIGHTEOUS IS A FOUNTAIN OF LIFE, BUT THE MOUTH OF THE WICKED CONCEALS VIOLENCE. HATRED STIRS UP STRIFE, BUT LOVE COVERS ALL OFFENSES.
PALOVEPI 10:11-12
11 Ko e ngutu ‘o e faitotonu ko e matavai mo‘ui: Ka ko e me‘a ‘oku pu‘aki ‘e he angahala ko e kofu ‘o e fakamālohi. 12 Ko e tāufehi‘a ‘oku fakatupu kē: Ka ko e ‘ofa ‘oku ne fakakofu ‘a e fa‘ahinga angahala kotoa pē.
You wouldn't know it from this translation, but "conceals" and "covers" are the same word in Hebrew - kasah. This verb is used to describe how Shem and Japheth kasah the nakedness of Noah (9:23).: Proverbs 10, the emphasis is on the mouth as a kind of veil, for good or for evil. The mouth of the wicked kasah violence - that is, it veils evil with lies. As the psalmist says, "His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords" (55:21). The mouth of the righteous, on the other hand, kasah all offenses in love - that is, it veils the words
that would speak evil, lies, or rumors of another.
Love hides or covers the sins of our neighbor; hatred unveils them. Both James 5:20 and 1 Peter 4:8 quote a version of this proverb. Indeed, James must have considered it so important that he saves it for the final, climactic verse of his epistle: "Whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." Restoration of the sinner, not gossiping about his offenses, is Christ's vocation for us.
Jesus Christ, "you forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin" (Ps. 85:2).
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