He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
Parallel translations
- WEB He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.
- 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 faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
- Prov 14:25A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
- Prov 24:28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
- Prov 6:19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
- Prov 21:28A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
- Prov 19:28An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
- Prov 19:5A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
- Matt 15:19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
- Acts 6:13And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
- Matt 26:59Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
- 1 Sam 22:14–15Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?
- 1 Pet 3:16Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation 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.