Eze 33:1-6 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

(2)  Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

(3)  If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

(4)  Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

(5)  He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

(6)  But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

The watchman was responsible for the people of the city. It was up to him to sound the alarm when an invading army was coming. If he fell asleep at his post or decided to not sound a warning, God made sure the watchman paid the penalty for his iniquity. Note the King James translators used the word “iniquity” — there is a difference between sin and iniquity and trespasses. Iniquity is defined as knowing that you are doing the wrong thing and doing it anyway.

The truth can hurt but it must be given out regardless of the consequences to you or to others. Failure to sound the alarm will cause more harm in the long run.