Sirach 8:18 - Do no secret thing before a stranger; For you know not what he will bring forth.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Sirach 8:18" mean?
Sirach 8:18, "Do no secret thing before a stranger; For you know not what he will bring forth," is a warning against revealing confidential or sensitive information to someone you don't know well. Let's break it down:
"Do no secret thing before a stranger": This is the core of the advice. "Secret thing" can refer to any personal, private, or sensitive matter – a secret plan, a vulnerability, a family issue, a financial difficulty, anything you'd prefer to keep confidential. "Stranger" means someone you don't trust or know well enough to confide in.
"For you know not what he will bring forth": This provides the reasoning. "Bring forth" suggests consequences, revelations, or actions that could arise from your shared secret. Because you don't know the stranger's character or motives, you can't predict what they will do with your information. They might:
Betray your confidence.
Use the information against you.
Spread the secret, causing you embarrassment or harm.
Misunderstand the situation and draw incorrect conclusions.
Manipulate you based on what they now know.
Inadvertently reveal the secret to someone else.
In essence, the verse is a caution about vulnerability and risk. Sharing secrets with strangers is risky because you can't control what they'll do with that information. It promotes prudence and discretion in choosing confidants, highlighting the importance of trust and discernment in relationships. Think before you speak!
Sirach 8:18 - Do no secret thing before a stranger; For you know not what he will bring forth.
What does "Sirach 8:18" mean?
Sirach 8:18, "Do no secret thing before a stranger; For you know not what he will bring forth," is a warning against revealing confidential or sensitive information to someone you don't know well. Let's break it down:
"Do no secret thing before a stranger": This is the core of the advice. "Secret thing" can refer to any personal, private, or sensitive matter – a secret plan, a vulnerability, a family issue, a financial difficulty, anything you'd prefer to keep confidential. "Stranger" means someone you don't trust or know well enough to confide in.
"For you know not what he will bring forth": This provides the reasoning. "Bring forth" suggests consequences, revelations, or actions that could arise from your shared secret. Because you don't know the stranger's character or motives, you can't predict what they will do with your information. They might:
Betray your confidence.
Use the information against you.
Spread the secret, causing you embarrassment or harm.
Misunderstand the situation and draw incorrect conclusions.
Manipulate you based on what they now know.
Inadvertently reveal the secret to someone else.
In essence, the verse is a caution about vulnerability and risk. Sharing secrets with strangers is risky because you can't control what they'll do with that information. It promotes prudence and discretion in choosing confidants, highlighting the importance of trust and discernment in relationships. Think before you speak!