A man without sense will be quick to slander someone with his words. He will gossip about what someone has spoken to him in confidence and, in doing so, will reveal their secrets. A person who is trustworthy, meaning one who will keep a secret, will not reveal what his neighbour has said to him; rather, he will cover it up. That means he will not display it in the open for others to hear in order to belittle his neighbour.
13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.