An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
Parallel translations
- WEB A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down 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 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 more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
- Job 34:7What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
- Luke 18:2–4Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
- Acts 6:11–13Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
- 1 Kgs 21:13And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.
- Job 20:12–13Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
- Ps 10:11He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
- Prov 15:14The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
- Isa 28:14–18Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
- Hos 4:8They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
- Ps 10:5His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
- 1 Kgs 21:10And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
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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
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