“Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly” (Proverbs 13:16).

Deal with knowledge — reject evil surmisings — avoid jumping to conclusions — beware of reading between the lines — stick to the facts.

I think Fellow E (and possibly others?) is avoiding me because of what Fellow S might have said about/against me. It appears Fellow J may have tried to take action against me because of Fellow S.

Do you see the absence of knowledge?!

Like it says in Zechariah 8:17 — “And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour.”

OK, fine — but what if the evil is a matter of knowledge rather than just imaginings?

“The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.” (Proverbs 15:2).

I need prudence and wisdom to deal only with knowledge…and that in a right way.

I still remember my high school teacher defining brutish as “cow-like.”

At least in a verse like this:

“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish” (Proverbs 12:1).

Am I no better than an animal when it comes to responding to reproof?

No, I don’t like reproof. Yes, I tend to react against reproof.

Frightening.

Then there’s this verse later on in the same chapter:

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (15).

Am I so proud (and foolish and cow-like) as to think my way is always right and in no need of reproof and contrary counsel?

May God so revive my heart that I learn to value reproof.