A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.
Parallel translations
- KJV A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
- BSB A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
- ESV A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure.
- NKJV A false witness shall perish, But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.
- NASB A false witness will perish, But a person who listens will speak forever.
- NLT A false witness will be cut off, but a credible witness will be allowed to speak.
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 false witness perishes, but a careful listener's testimony endures. It matters because truthfulness lasts while lies are condemned.
Overview
The liar's testimony — and the liar himself — will perish, while the one who speaks from careful, honest hearing speaks words that stand (Proverbs 19:5,9; 12:19). The verse upholds truthful witness as enduring. God, the God of truth, vindicates honesty and judges falsehood.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Cor 4:13But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.” We also believe, and therefore also we speak;
- Prov 19:5A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
- Prov 19:9A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
- Deut 19:16–19If an unrighteous witness rises up against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing,
- Prov 25:18A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
- Exod 23:1“You shall not spread a false report. Don’t join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness.
- Titus 3:8This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men;
- Prov 6:19a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
- Prov 12:19Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.
- Acts 12:15They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”
- 2 Cor 1:17–20When I therefore was thus determined, did I show fickleness? Or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be the “Yes, yes” and the “No, no?”
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 21:28 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.