There is such a thing as righteous hatred. We are to hate evil (Romans 12:9), and David speaks of seeing the Lord’s enemies as his own enemies, whom he hates with perfect hatred (Psalm 139:19–22). But this proverb has in mind that wicked hatred which seeks only to pour out its own bitterness by attempting to make others just as miserable. It finds faults in others and seeks to magnify, rather than heal them.
Love covers not only weakness and faults in others, but also their sins. Love desires to forgive sin and to heal injury (1 Corinthians 13:5–7). Only Christ so loves us and enables us so to love others (Ephesians 4:32).
12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.