A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
Parallel translations
- WEB A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
- KJV A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
- NKJV A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.
- NASB A false witness will not go unpunished, And one who declares lies will not escape.
- NLT A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.
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 false witness will not escape punishment. Lying under oath brings certain judgment.
Overview
This proverb solemnly affirms that the false witness and the liar will not go unpunished, upholding the ninth commandment's concern for truth (Exod. 20:16). It warns that, though deceit may seem to succeed, justice will come. God is the God of truth who judges all falsehood, and the gospel both exposes our sin and reconciles us through Christ, in whom there was no deceit (1 Pet. 2:22).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Prov 21:28A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
- Exod 23:1“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness.
- Prov 6:19a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
- Prov 19:9A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
- Dan 6:24At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.
- Deut 5:11You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.
- Deut 19:16–21If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime,
- 1 Kgs 2:9Now therefore, do not hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man. You know what you ought to do to him to bring his gray head down to Sheol in blood.”
- Ps 120:3–4What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue?
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 19:5 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.