Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
Also take no heed to every word that is spoken, and do not attend closely to all talk about oneself. Listening closely brings hurt, for it may let one hear that even one's own servant has spoken against one or spoken ill. The reason given in the next verse is that one's own conscience knows that one has likewise spoken against others. That remembrance calls for restraint in listening to unpleasant talk and for humility about criticism rather than fault-finding, since the listener has also been at fault.
Critical words about a person may be spoken out of momentary frustration rather than settled intent or deliberate malice. Applied to household life, the counsel teaches patience and slowness to rebuke. A child's lapse may be forgetfulness rather than deliberate disobedience, and a servant's mistake can be met with restraint, especially when one's own faults and carelessness are remembered. Faults or angry remarks need not be punished in anger, but can at times be overlooked altogether or be corrected gently when correction is needed.
Also take no heed to every word that is spoken, and do not attend closely to all talk about oneself. Listening closely brings hurt, for it may let one hear that even one's own servant has spoken against one or spoken ill. The reason given in the next verse is that one's own conscience knows that one has likewise spoken against others. That remembrance calls for restraint in listening to unpleasant talk and for humility about criticism rather than fault-finding, since the listener has also been at fault.
Critical words about a person may be spoken out of momentary frustration rather than settled intent or deliberate malice. Applied to household life, the counsel teaches patience and slowness to rebuke. A child's lapse may be forgetfulness rather than deliberate disobedience, and a servant's mistake can be met with restraint, especially when one's own faults and carelessness are remembered. Faults or angry remarks need not be punished in anger, but can at times be overlooked altogether or be corrected gently when correction is needed.