open rebuke

 Q - Tito pwede po ba magbigay kayo ng optional interpretation and application of

Proverbs 27.5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Sawang-sawa na po akong madinig yan being used /abused by self-righteous people every time may gusto silang i-judge o pakialaman!

Something inside me tells me very strongly na mali ang understanding and use nila of this verse pero hindi ko ma-explain.

A -

Several versions translate Proverbs 27.5 as:

“It is better to correct someone openly than to love him and not show it.”

“A spoken reprimand is better than approval that’s never expressed.”

“Sharp words spoken in the open are better than love that is hidden.”

Like in most proverbs where the message is put across by presenting opposite/clashing ideas or options,

THERE ARE TWO OPPOSITE IDEAS IN PROVERBS 27.5:

1. THE DESIRABLE, which is love /being loved

and

2. THE UNDESIRABLE which is being rebuked, especially openly/publicly.

The verse could be poetically saying this idea:

• While love is desirable, IF it is only in secret and unexpressed,

then something undesirable ---like being rebuked openly---

could be considered better that that kind of love.

=

Masakit ma-open rebuke pero

mas masakit maibig ng palihim lang.

=

Mas Mabuti pa ma-open rebuke

Kesa ma-secret love.

Of course, arte lang to. Hindi talaga mean.

In other words,

• Being loved is desirable; being openly rebuked is not desirable.

But receiving something undesirable as an open rebuke could be considered better than

- being the object of a secret love.

- unknowingly receiving love that is secret and unexpressed.

=

Mas matamis pa ang mapait (being rebuked openly)

higit sa talagang matamis (being loved but only in secret).

Parang:

Mabuting pang mamatay (undesirable)

kesa mabuhay ng wala ka (mas undesirable.)

=

Open rebuke (undesirable)

Is better than secret love (mas undesirable).

=

Mas mabuti pang ma-rebuke openly kesa mamahal ng lihim lamang.

The core idea is: love should be expressed.

In an exaggerated way, this proverb says

Mas mabuti pang tumanggap ng masakit na open rebuke kesa tumanggap ng secret love.

Ang tunay na message:

So, ilabas, i-express ang love!

The verse should not be read as a license for self-appointed critics and judges to openly / callously rebuke anyone and everyone.