I have an older version of the New Living Translation, but it put this verse like this:
Any story sounds true until someone sets the record straight. – Proverbs 18:17
I love this. Anything sounds right, until someone tells the truth or offers another perspective. If I were a politician, that would be my slogan.
“Before you believe the story, ask me.”
Wouldn’t this be a great thought for everyday life? I mean that is what the Proverbs are for—to apply to life. That’s what the Bible is for—application. When the rumor is spread think about this. When the assumption is made, think about this. To put it more bluntly, when the lie is told, think about this.
Anything sounds right or seems true, until… well, until someone tells the truth. Be the one that tells the truth rather than the one that believes the lie.