Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.
Parallel translations
- KJV The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
- BSB Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
- NKJV The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
- NASB Truthful lips will endure forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
- NLT Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.
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
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. Truth has lasting power, while lies are fleeting.
Overview
This proverb contrasts the permanence of truth with the brief, collapsing life of falsehood. Lies may seem to succeed for a time, but only truth endures. This reflects the eternal trustworthiness of God's word, which stands forever, against the passing schemes of deceit.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Prov 19:9A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
- Ps 52:4–5You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.
- Job 20:5that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
- Zech 1:4–6Don’t you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Yahweh of Armies says, ‘Return now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings;’ but they did not hear, nor listen to me, says Yahweh.
- Acts 5:3–10But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
- Matt 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 12:19 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.