A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
Parallel translations
- WEB A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
- KJV An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
- BSB A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.
- NKJV A disreputable witness scorns justice, And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
- NASB A worthless witness makes a mockery of justice, And the mouth of the wicked swallows wrongdoing.
- NLT A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice; the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 corrupt witness scorns justice, and the wicked devour iniquity eagerly. The wicked relish wrongdoing and despise what is right.
Overview
This proverb portrays the worthless witness mocking justice while the mouth of the wicked 'gulps down' iniquity as if it were food. It exposes the appetite for evil and contempt for truth that mark the unrighteous. Scripture warns that such mockery of justice does not escape God's notice, and the gospel offers the only cleansing for hearts that would otherwise feast on sin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Job 15:16how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks iniquity like water!
- Job 34:7What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
- Luke 18:2–4saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God, and didn’t respect man.
- Acts 6:11–13Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
- 1 Kgs 21:13The two men, the base fellows, came in and sat before him. The base fellows testified against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king!” Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death with stones.
- Job 20:12–13“Though wickedness is sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue,
- Ps 10:11He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”
- Prov 15:14The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
- Isa 28:14–18Therefore hear Yahweh’s word, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem:
- Hos 4:8They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.
- Ps 10:5His ways are prosperous at all times. He is haughty, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
- 1 Kgs 21:10Set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king!’ Then carry him out, and stone him to death.”
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 19:28 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.