An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.
Parallel translations
- WEB A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
- KJV A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
- NKJV A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies.
- NASB A trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness declares lies.
- NLT An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes 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
A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies. Truthfulness in testimony reflects the heart.
Overview
This proverb contrasts the reliable witness who tells the truth with the false witness whose very nature is to deceive, a serious matter in a justice system dependent on testimony. It upholds the ninth commandment's concern for truthful witness (Exodus 20:16). Christ Himself is the 'faithful and true witness' (Revelation 3:14) in contrast to the father of lies.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Prov 19:5A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
- Prov 6:19a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
- Exod 23:1“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.
- Prov 12:17He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.
- Prov 14:25A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.
- Prov 13:5The righteous hate falsehood, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace.
- Prov 19:9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
- 1 Kgs 22:12–14And all the prophets were prophesying the same, saying, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
- 1 Kgs 21:13And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
- Exod 20:16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
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 14:5 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.