And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
for charity shall cover the multitude of sins: "Cover" (kalupto) means "to hide, veil, i.e. to hinder the knowledge of a thing" (Thayer 323-1-2572). (See also 2 Corinthians 4:3.) Fervent love covers a multitude of sins, throwing a kind mantle over the faults of others (Proverbs 10:12). Instead of seeking revenge for wrongs suffered, love will hide a "multitude" (pleethos) of sins--"a great number, sc. of men or things" (Thayer 516-2-4128). While in James 5:20 the text talks about our working with brethren to secure pardon of their sins from God, in this text the idea is loving one another to the extent that we forgive them of their sins against us (1 Corinthians 13:5). Peter does not refer to our sins against God.