He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.
Parallel translations
- KJV He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
- BSB He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.
- NKJV He who speaks truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.
- NASB One who declares truth tells what is right, But a false witness, deceit.
- NLT An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness tells lies.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness lies. Truthfulness in testimony is a matter of justice and integrity.
Overview
This proverb plainly distinguishes the truthful witness, who upholds justice, from the false witness, who spreads lies. Honest testimony protects others and reflects God's own truthfulness. The God of truth, fully revealed in Christ who is the truth, calls His people to speak truthfully in every setting.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 14:5A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
- Prov 14:25A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
- Prov 24:28Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
- Prov 6:19a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
- Prov 21:28A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.
- Prov 19:28A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
- Prov 19:5A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
- Matt 15:19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
- Acts 6:13and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
- Matt 26:59Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
- 1 Sam 22:14–15Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, and is taken into your council, and is honorable in your house?
- 1 Pet 3:16having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 12:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.