Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
A dispute is to be handled calmly and directly with the neighbor himself, without exposing the matter or any private secret connected with it to others. Where the matter is a personal offense, this means going privately to the one at fault and speaking calmly to correct the wrong rather than publicly exposing him, seeking to settle the difficulty without resentment or revenge. Reasoning in this way, without exaggerating the wrong, moves the other person to listen, brings the controversy to an end, and restores friendship and confidence.
Spreading a grievance to others enlarges the harm until the whole church is made to suffer. To disclose the matter to another, even by telling it as a private confidence to an outsider, brings shame. Counsel may still be sought, but one must be discreet about whom to confide in and must not seek sympathy indiscriminately.
A dispute is to be handled calmly and directly with the neighbor himself, without exposing the matter or any private secret connected with it to others. Where the matter is a personal offense, this means going privately to the one at fault and speaking calmly to correct the wrong rather than publicly exposing him, seeking to settle the difficulty without resentment or revenge. Reasoning in this way, without exaggerating the wrong, moves the other person to listen, brings the controversy to an end, and restores friendship and confidence.
Spreading a grievance to others enlarges the harm until the whole church is made to suffer. To disclose the matter to another, even by telling it as a private confidence to an outsider, brings shame. Counsel may still be sought, but one must be discreet about whom to confide in and must not seek sympathy indiscriminately.