He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.
There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.
Parallel Translations
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He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.
There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise heals.
Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.
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He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Show all 3 translations
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He that breatheth forth truth uttereth righteousness; but a false witness deceit.
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword; but the tongue of the wise is health.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever; but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Cross-references (33)
- Proverbs 16:24 (v18) Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
- Proverbs 15:4 (v18) A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
- Proverbs 19:9 (v19) A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
- Psalms 52:4-5 (v19) You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue. God will likewise destroy you forever. He will take you up, and pluck you out of your…
- Psalms 57:4 (v18) My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a…
Show all 33 cross-references
- Proverbs 10:20-21 (v18) The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but the…
- Psalms 52:2 (v18) Your tongue plots destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
- James 3:6-8 (v18) And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course…
- Job 20:5 (v19) that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment?
- Proverbs 14:5 (v17) A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
- Proverbs 14:25 (v17) A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
- Proverbs 4:22 (v18) For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
- Proverbs 13:17 (v18) A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
- Proverbs 15:7 (v18) The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools.
- Proverbs 25:18 (v18) A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.
- Daniel 11:33 (v18) “Those who are wise among the people will instruct many; yet they will fall by the sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder, many…
- Zechariah 1:4-6 (v19) Don’t you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Yahweh of Armies says, ‘Return now from your evil ways, and…
- Psalms 64:3 (v18) who sharpen their tongue like a sword, and aim their arrows, deadly words,
- Proverbs 6:19 (v17) a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
- Proverbs 24:28 (v17) Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
- Matthew 24:35 (v19) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
- Acts 5:3-10 (v19) But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? While…
- Psalms 59:7 (v18) Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For”, they say, “who hears us?”
- Proverbs 19:5 (v17) A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
- Proverbs 19:28 (v17) A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
- Proverbs 21:28 (v17) A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
- Matthew 15:19 (v17) For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies.
- Revelation 1:16 (v18) He had seven stars in his right hand. Out of his mouth proceeded a sharp two-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its…
- Revelation 22:2 (v18) in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit…
- 1 Samuel 22:14-15 (v17) Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, “Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king’s son-in-law, captain of…
- Matthew 26:59 (v17) Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
- Acts 6:13 (v17) and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
- 1 Peter 3:16 (v17) having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (21 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v18 Which seek nothing more than to provoke others to…
Which seek nothing more than to provoke others to anger.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv17–19 Pro 12:17 [He that] speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness:…
Pro 12:17 [He that] speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
Ver. 17. He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness.] Will be ready to help the truth in necessity, and will do it boldly, as the word signifies - even with a courage not budging, for "Charity rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, hut rejoiceth in the truth." {1Co 13:6}
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But a false witness uttereth deceit.] Coloureth his sycophancies with plausible pretences, and faceth down an untruth. "The proud have forged a lie against me." {Psa 119:69} The Hebrew hath it, Assuunt mendacium mendacio, They eke out one lie with another; they are loud and lewd liars; as Egesippus saith of Pilate, that he was Vir nequam et parvi faciens mendacium. What is truth? said he, scornfully, to our Saviour, q.d., Thy life is in question, and dost thou talk of truth?
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv17–19 He that speaketh truth, Heb.
He that speaketh truth, Heb.
He that will speak truth, i.e. he who accustometh himself to speak truth in common conversation; for the future tense in the Hebrew tongue oft notes a continued act or habit.
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Showeth forth righteousness, to wit, as a witness in public judgment; he will speak nothing but what is true and just; you may depend upon his testimony.
But a false witness deceit; he who useth himself to lying in his common talk will use falsehood and deceit in judgment.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On vv17–19 Here is, 1. A faithful witness commended for an…
Here is, 1. A faithful witness commended for an honest man. He that makes conscience of speaking truth, and representing every thing fairly, to the best of his knowledge, whether in judgment or in common conversation, whether he be upon his oath or no, he shows forth righteousness; he makes it to appear that he is governed and actuated by the principles and laws of righteousness, and he promotes justice by doing honour to it and serving the administration of it. 2. A false witness condemned for a cheat; he shows forth deceit, not only how little conscience he makes of deceiving those he deals with, but how much pleasure he takes in it, and that he is possessed by a lying spirit, Jer 9:3-5. We are all concerned to possess ourselves with a dread and detestation of the sin of lying (Psa 119:163) and with a reigning principle of honesty.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv17–19 He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness,.... He that…
He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness,.... He that "blows" or "breathes out truth" (d), as the word signifies; that utters it freely and fully without any hesitation; that speaks nothing but truth, and speaks out the whole truth without any reserve; such a man upon every occasion will declare that which is just and right, and show himself to be an honest and upright man; he that uses himself to speak truth in common conversation, will, in a court of judicature, whether upon his oath or not, testify that which is just and the real matter of fact; there is a connection between truth and righteousness, for though they are distinct things they go together, what is true is just, and what is just is true; so he that speaks the truth of the Gospel, or is a faithful preacher of it, will show forth righteousness, what is the righteousness of the law, and what is the righteousness of faith; how insufficient a man's own righteousness is to justify him in the sight of God; the necessity of the righteousness of Christ, how free and full, excellent and glorious, suitable and useful it is, Rom 1:17;
but a false witness deceit; that is, one that is used to lying, when he is called to give testimony upon any affair in judgment, he will declare that which is false and deceitful, having no regard to truth and justice. So a false teacher, instead of showing men the insufficiency of their own righteousness, and directing them to the righteousness of Christ for justification, will utter deceitful doctrine, and build up their hopes upon the sandy and deceitful foundation of their own works; as Popish teachers, and such as verge towards them.
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(d) "effiat", Junius & Tremellius; "spirat", Schultens.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv17–19 Deceit - He who uses himself to lying in…
Deceit - He who uses himself to lying in his common talk, will use falsehood and deceit in judgment.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv18–19 Verse 18. There is that speaketh] Instead of בוטה…
Verse 18. There is that speaketh] Instead of בוטה boteh, blabbing out, blustering, several MSS. have בוטח boteach, TRUSTING: and instead of כמדקרות kemadkeroth, AS the piercings, seven MSS., with the Complutensian Polyglot, have במדקרות bemadkeroth, IN the piercings. "There is that trusteth in the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." But I suppose the former to be the true reading.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv17–18 Pro 12:17. He that speaketh truth — He that…
Pro 12:17. He that speaketh truth — He that makes conscience of representing every thing fairly, to the best of his knowledge, whether in judgment or common conversation, whether he be upon his oath or not; he showeth forth righteousness — He makes it appear that he is governed by the principles and laws of righteousness; and he promotes justice by doing honour to it, and serving the administration of it; but a false witness shows forth deceit — He not only manifests how little conscience he makes of deceiving those he deals with, but how much pleasure he takes in it, and that he is possessed of a lying spirit, Jer 9:3-5. It is of unspeakable concern to us all, to possess ourselves with a dread and detestation of the sin of lying, and a reigning principle of honesty.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v17 The thought which lies below the surface is that…
The thought which lies below the surface is that of the inseparable union between truth and justice. The end does not justify the means, and only he who breathes and utters truth makes the righteous cause clear.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain On vv17–19 This proverb may appear almost too obvious to need…
This proverb may appear almost too obvious to need remark. But the Scripture not only sets out what is deep and searching, but stamps the every-day truths with the seal of God for our more reverential obedience. Yet there is here more than lies on the surface. It might seem enough for a faithful witness to speak truth. But no — he must shew forth righteousness; what is just, as well as what is true. The best-intentioned purpose must not lead us to conceal what is necessary to bring the cause to a righteous issue; "rejoicing not in iniquity, but rejoicing in the truth." (1Co 13:6 .)
A false witness does not always deal with open lying but with deceit — truth misrepresented, concealed and thus turned into falsehood. Thus was Doeg a false witness against the priests. He states the fact, but by suppression of circumstances gives a false impression. (1Sa 21:1-7 ; 1Sa 22:9-10 .) The false witness condemned our Lord by a similar perverse misconstruction of his words. (Mat 26:60-61 . Joh 2:19-21 .) Oh, cherish a deep abhorrence of deceit in all its forms and beginnings. (Pro 13:5 . Psa 119:163 .) Christian obligation and privilege alike forbid it. (Eph 4:22-25 .) Truth and deceit are not mere moral qualities, but the distinctive mark of the two classes of the world. Look to it, that the broad stamp of truth and righteousness brings out the testimony — "Behold! an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." (Joh 1:47 .)
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv17–19 That. Hebrew, "the truth announceth justice." We easily give…
That. Hebrew, "the truth announceth justice." We easily give credit to an honest man. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv18–19 speaketh--literally, "speaketh hastily," or indiscreetly (Psa 106:33), as an…
speaketh--literally, "speaketh hastily," or indiscreetly (Psa 106:33), as an angry man retorts harsh and provoking invectives.
tongue . . . health--by soothing and gentle language.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv17–19 17. Speaketh — Hebrew, breathes forth.
17. Speaketh — Hebrew, breathes forth.
Truth — Makes an honest and faithful statement.
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Showeth forth — Publishes or establishes.
Righteousness — A just cause.
A false witness (shows or establishes) deceit — An habitually faithful man can be relied upon to testify to the right; but a false witness supports fraud. The thought lying below the surface of this truism is the inseparable union between truth and justice.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv18–19 18. speaketh] Rather, speaketh rashly, R.V.; scattereth thoughtless words,…
18. speaketh] Rather, speaketh rashly, R.V.; scattereth thoughtless words, as one might recklessly brandish a naked sword.
“Many a word at random spoken
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May wound … a heart that’s broken.”
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv18–19 (18) There is that speaketh.—Rather, that babbleth, like the…
(18) There is that speaketh.—Rather, that babbleth, like the piercing of a sword, that chatters on, not noticing or caring how he may wound the feelings of others by his inconsiderate remarks.
The tongue of the wise is health.—Or, healing; soothing the wounds made by the other’s indiscriminate chatter.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv17–19 He that speaketh breatheth out fearlessly (Pro_6:19) truth showeth…
He that speaketh breatheth out fearlessly (Pro_6:19) truth showeth forth righteousness. The truth always conduces to justice and right, not only in a matter of law, but generally and in all cases. Vulgate, "He who speaks that which he knows is a discoverer of justice;" Septuagint, "A just man announces well proved assurance or, "the open truth (epideiknumenhn pistin )." A false witness showeth forth deceit; (Pro_14:5, Pro_14:25) exhibits his true character, which is fraud, treachery, and wrong doing.
Truth and righteousness.
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We have here a suggestion of the close connection between truth and righteousness. This connection is based on a reciprocal relation. Truthfulness is a trait of righteousness, and righteousness is advanced by truthfulness.
I TRUTHFULNESS IS A TRAIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. The truth here referred to is that which is most often mentioned in the Bible, viz. subjective truth, the agreement between our convictions and our utterances. We cannot attain to perfect objective truth, to the truth which consists in an agreement between our beliefs and the facts of the universe, because all men sometimes err even with the most innocent intention of finding the truth. We are liable to delusions from without, and to the influence of an unconscious bias from within. But we can all utter what we believe to be true. Now, this truth speaking is one of the most solemn and absolute obligations of righteousness.
1. The grounds of the obligation.
(1) We recognize the awful duty of truthfulness in our conscience.
(2) The Teutonic conscience is supposed to respond to this duty more readily than the Oriental conscience. Yet it is clearly and firmly insisted on in the Bible.
(3) It is most evident in the transparent life of Christ, who is a true Witness to the truth. (Joh_18:37)
(4) All social arrangements presuppose truthfulness; without it society becomes a confusion. Truth cements the social fabric; lying dissolves it. A city of universal liars would be an inferno of mutual distrust, suspicion, and necessary isolation.
2. The bearing of the obligation.
(1) On small things. Slight inaccuracies of speech may seem to be of no importance; but they open the door for more gross forms of deceit, by generating a habit of indifference to truth. Apart from this tendency, the least untruth is treason against the royal supremacy of truth.
(2) In difficult cases. When we are severely tried, it is hard to speak the truth. Yet it is just then that truthfulness becomes a positive quality. Under such circumstances only a character that is morally sound will stand the strain. Indeed, it needs the grace of Christ to keep true in word and deed under all provocations to easier paths.
II RIGHTEOUSNESS IS ADVANCED BY TRUTHFULNESS.
1. In the individual. Untruthfulness is certain to issue in a lower moral tone all round. We cannot abandon one of the guardian towers of the soul without risking the whole citadel. The liar is not only a person who uses false language. His cowardly habit eats into the very heart of virtue and rots the moral fibre of his soul. On the other hand, there is no more bracing moral tonic than a loyal and reverent regard for truth. The true man is likely to be honest, just, and pure in all respects.
2. In the world. Truth always makes for righteousness. No greater blunder was ever made than the supposition that "pious frauds" could be used for advancing the cause of Christianity. Any temporary gain that could be produced in this way must be unsound from the first, and the ultimate issue is certain to be moral indifference and unbelief. Some truths are unpleasant, some ugly, some seemingly hurtful. Yet, in the end, truth makes for soul health. Above all, is not he who is "the Truth" also the great Source of the world"s righteousness?
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv18–19 The tongue of the wise is health.
Pro_12:18
The tongue of the wise is health.
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Healthy and unhealthy speech
Some men pride themselves on the pungency of their speech. They delight in sharp answers, keen retorts, quick repartees, and boast themselves when they cut their opponents in two. There are others who are gifted in the expression of complaint, reproach, and criticism against the whole providence of life. They can say sharp and bitter things about God and man, and they can be satisfied because of the edge of their own epigram, no matter against whom or against what that edge is directed. The tongue of the wise man is slower, but healthier; the wise man weighs his words: he is anxious to be associated only with judgments that can be confirmed by experience and illustrated by wisdom. The wise man speaks healthily--that is to say, he speaks out of the abundance of his own health, and he speaks in a way that will double and strengthen the health of others. To come near him is to ascend a mountain and breathe the freshest air of heaven, or to go down by the seashore and receive messages across the great deeps, full of vigour, and truth, and strengthening influence. Wise men keep society healthy. But for their presence it would stagnate, and go from one degree of corruption to another until it became wholly pestilential. There are two speakers in the text, to the end of time there will probably be two speakers in the world--the critical speaker and the judicial speaker; the man all sharpness and the man all thankfulness. The business of Christian discipline is to tame the tongue, to chasten it, to teach it the speech of wisdom, and to instruct it as to the right time of utterance and the right time of silence. (J. Parker, D.D.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v17 Pro_12:17. Speaketh, literally “breathes.”
CRITICAL NOTES.—
Pro_12:17. Speaketh, literally “breathes.”
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Pro_12:18. Speaketh, literally “babbles.” Health, “healing.”
Pro_12:19. A moment, literally “while I wink.”
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Pro_12:17-19, and Pro_12:22
WOUNDING AND HEALING
I. The mischief that may be done by a lying tongue.
1. In a legal matter. It is the duty of a witness to testify exactly what he knows, and no more nor less. If a man speaks deceitfully he may bring much misery upon the innocent, whom his straightforward testimony would have acquitted. And he may do this by withholding truth as well as by uttering direct falsehood. The first is “showing forth deceit” as well as the last.
2. In common conversation. The word “speaketh,” in Pro_12:18, is “babbleth,” and seems to point to those who are great talkers, and who are not careful what they say. (See Homiletics on chap. Pro_10:19-21, page 168.) In both these cases words may inflict a more deadly wound than a sword. If spoken to a man they may break his heart, if spoken of him they may kill his reputation, which no sword of steel can touch, and which to the best men is much more precious than bodily life. A lying or even a babbling tongue can pierce a much more vital organisation than flesh and blood—it can enter the human spirit, and hurt it in its most sensitive part; or by slander it can destroy all the joy of a man’s earthly life. And as a sword can in a moment sever the spirit and the body of a man, and work such ruin and misery as can never be done away with, so a lying tongue may by one word, or one conversation, do mischief that can never be undone. The sword of steel can divide human friends locally; but it cannot sever their love; it tends rather to increase and brighten the flame; but a word of slander may do all this, and estrange those who were bound in the tenderest ties, until the God of Truth shall bring the truth to light. Though the lying tongue is comparatively “but for a moment,” yet in a moment it can deal a thrust that will last as long as life. It can open a wound whence will flow out all the joy of life, as the heart’s blood flows from a mortally wounded man.
II. Its judgment and its destiny. It is an abomination in the sight of a God of Truth, and, therefore, its life is comparatively short—it is “but for a moment” compared with the eternal duration of truth. A lying man or devil is the very antipodes of the Divine character. All truthful men instinctively shrink from a liar as the sensitive plant withdraws from the human touch. How much more must he be held in abhorrence by Him who is a “God of Truth, and without iniquity” (Deu_32:4). Christ characterises lying as the cardinal sin of the greatest sinner in the universe (Joh_8:44). It was his lying tongue that “brought death into the world, and all our woe,” and so spoiled the Paradise which God had prepared for man. How then can lying be any other than an abomination to Him? But, because it is so, its doom is fixed. It is destined to destruction by the victory of truth, as the night is destroyed by the overcoming light of day. (On this subject see also Homiletics on Chap. Pro_10:18, page 166.)
III. The blessed results of a truthful and wisely-governed tongue.
1. It will “show forth righteousness.” A man who speaks the truth shows forth righteousness in two ways—
(1) in his own character. He reveals himself to be a righteous man. He gives a living example of uprightness and integrity.
(2) He helps on righteousness in the world. By being a faithful witness he furthers the ends of justice and righteousness—he helps on the just administration of the law.
2. It will heal wounds inflicted by the untruthful tongue. In nature we have a two-fold exhibition of power. The hurricane comes and breaks the branches of the tree, and strips off its leaves; but a more beneficent power clothes it again with beauty. So the tongue of a fool strips a man of what made life beautiful to him—takes away his good name, or breaks bonds of close friendship—but wise and kind words have a healing power in them—they help to cheer the wounded spirit, and enable the bowed head to lift itself again. Such a tongue of healing had the Divine Son of God, who came “to heal the broken in heart” (Isa_61:1), and to restore the friendship between God and man, which was first broken by the slandering tongue of the devil—that great slanderer of God to man, and of man to God” (Gen_3:5; Job_1:10). To Him the “Lord God gave the tongue of the learned, that He might know how to speak a word in season to him that was weary (Isa_50:4). The tongue of all true servants of God is an instrument of healing, for they are enabled to tell to their fellow-men “words whereby they may be saved” (Act_10:14).
IV. God’s estimation of it and its destiny. It is “God’s delight,” Pro_12:22. Whatever gives delight to a noble and benevolent man must be a blessing to humanity, and everything will delight him that tends to minister blessing to the world. This is pre-eminently true of the good God. Truth is the great need of the race—truth in word and deed and thought. To this end Christ came into the world “to bear witness of the truth” (Joh_18:37), because that alone is the cure for the world’s woes. Then every man who is true must bless humanity and consequently delight God. A good father rejoices to see his own excellencies of character appear in his son, and the Father of the good likewise delights to see His children copy Him in “dealing truly.” (See also on chap. Pro_11:1, page 191.) And because it is God’s delight it will last for ever. Truth of any kind will be established in the course of time. If a man proclaim a scientific truth, however much he may be laughed at and disbelieved at first, his “lip,” or his words, will be established in the end. The words of Galileo, when he uttered the truth, that the earth moved round the sun, have long since been “established.” Time only is needed for any truth to take root-hold—it can never be overturned, whether it be physical or moral truth. Many truths which were scoffed at by most men, when they were first promulgated, are now regarded as truisms by almost everybody. And the lips that uttered them are now established and held in honour. Such men, for instance, as Cromwell and Milton, when they declared that the right of private judgment in religious matters, the freedom of the press, etc., were the right of every man, are now established in the estimation of this nation, and the truths which they uttered are regarded by all Englishmen as undoubted facts. “This,” says F. W. Robertson, “is man’s relation to the truth. He is but a learner—a devout recipient of a revelation—here to listen with open ear devoutly for that which he shall hear; to gaze and watch for that which he shall see. Man can do no more. He cannot create truth; he can only bear witness to it; he can only listen and report that which is in the universe. If he does not repeat and witness to that, he speaketh of his own, and forthwith ceases to be true.… Veracity is another thing. Veracity is the correspondence between a proposition and a man’s belief. Truth is the correspondence of the proposition with fact.” It is to such witness-bearers—especially to those who witness concerning moral truth—that the promise of the text applies.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
Pro_12:17. He who is brought to a spiritual discernment of the “truth” “breathes” it like his breath, instinctively and unconsciously. (See Critical Notes.) And he who does this not simply “covers shame” (Pro_12:16), but causes others to, for he advertises righteousness—i.e., publishes it. This, therefore, is the meaning of the sentence: “He that breathes forth truth publishes righteousness”—i.e., saving righteousness: and does it like uttering forth his breath. While the “deceived” (false) witness; literally, the witness of falsehood; aphrase which is ambiguous, because it might mean a witness to falsehood (see chap. Pro_6:9)—the “deceived witness”—i.e., the man who sees or witnesses falsehood instead of truth, “publishes (understood) delusion”—i.e., is a constant fountain of deceit to other men. This sense of the witness of falsehood is necessary to many proverbs (chap Pro_14:5), and saves a number from tautological or truistic interpretations.—Miller.
There is more here than lies upon the surface. It might seem enough for a faithful witness to speak truth. But no—he must show forth righteousness; what is just, as well as what is true. The best intentioned purpose must not lead us to conceal what is necessary to bring the cause to a righteous issue.—Bridges.
The words read at first almost like a truism; but the thought which lies below the surface is that of the inseparable union between truth and justice. The end does not justify the means, and only he who breathes and utters truth makes the righteous cause clear. Plumptre.
He that speaketh, ordinarily, in his common speech, that which is true, will show righteousness—that is, will carry himself justly, and further righteousness with his testimony, when he shall be publicly called thereunto. There must be a training of the tongue to make it fit for equity and justice, as of the hands, and other parts of the body, to make them skilful in handling a weapon and bearing of arms.… No man is competent for any work that is public unless his former upright and honest conversation commend him unto it. The rule which our Saviour gives in another case will hold as firmly in this. “He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much” (Luk_16:10). For, first, the mouth of the man is the mouth of the man’s treasure. That which he speaketh he best loveth. That which is most in the lips hath greatest place in the heart. If, therefore, the truth be dear unto him, he will certainly show it forth when he shall stand forth before God and His substitute for that purpose, and so do a good service of love and piety; but if he have any fellowship with falsehood he will now take part with it, being void of the fear of God, and afraid to displease man. Secondly, no man exerciseth the truth at any time conscionably, but by the spirit of truth, and that directing men’s hearts at other times, in matters of less weight, will not fail them at their greatest need, when they are to perform a duty of so great importance; and so, on the other hand, Satan hath the disposing of their tongues that give themselves to lying. He is their father, he teacheth them their trade, and tasketh them in their work, and they be wholly at his commandment, and who doubteth but he will command them to be on his side, and to take against the truth, so far as a knowledge of the truth shall make against his practices.—Dod.
Pro_12:18. Wit, when not chastened and controlled by an amiable disposition, often wounds deeply. Jibes, jests, irony, raillery, and sarcasm, fly about. No matter what the wounds, or where they be inflicted, if the wit be but shown. A happy hit, a clever, biting repartee, will not be suppressed for the sake of the feelings, or even the character of a neighbour, or, as it may happen, a friend. The man of wit must have his joke, cost what it may. The point may be piercing in the extreme; but if it glitters it is enough; to the heart it will go.—Wardlaw.
Abimelech and his fellow priests were killed with the tongue, as with a rapier; so was Naboth and his sons; so was our Saviour Christ Himself. An honest mind is ever more afflicted with words than blows. You shall find some, saith Erasmus, that if they be threatened with death can despise it; but to be belied they cannot brook, nor from revenge contain themselves. How was David enraged by Nabal’s railings! Moses, by the people’s murmurings! Jeremiah by the derisions of the rude rabble! (chap. Pro_20:7-8.)—Trapp.
Among all the complaints which the godly, and God’s own spirit make against the wicked in the Scriptures, they seldom complain of anything more than of their virulent and pestiferous mouths (Psa_55:21; Psa_52:2; Pro_25:18; Rom_3:13). First, they cause swords to be drawn, and blood to be shed, and men to be slain, and much mischief to be wrought. Secondly. The sword, or any other weapon, can only hurt them that are present, and in places near to it; but the stroke of the tongue will light most dangerously upon them that are absent; no place or distance can help against it, and one man may do mischief to a great multitude.—Dod.
Pro_12:19. Liars need to have good memories. A lying tongue soon betrays itself. “No lie reaches old age,” says Sophocles.—Fausset.
The verse has been differently rendered. “The tongue of truth is ever steady: but the tongue of falsehood is so but for a moment” (Hodgson). There is unvarying consistency in the one case; for truth is always in harmony with itself; while there is shifting evasion, vacillation, contradiction, in the other.—Wardlaw.
Who will gainsay the martyr’s testimony—“Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, play the man! We shall this day light such a candle in England as I trust shall never be put out.”—Bridges.
The Christian shall utter for ever just the things that he utters on earth. Miller.
Pro_12:22. Not merely they that speak truly, but they that deal truly. Deeds of true dealing must confirm words of fair speaking.—Fausset.
A lie is a thing absolutely and intrinsically evil; it is an act of injustice and a violation of our neighbour’s rights. The vileness of its nature is equalled by the malignity of its effects; it first brought sin into the world, and is since the cause of all those miseries and calamities that disturb it; it tends utterly to overthrow and dissolve society, which is the greatest temporal blessing and support of mankind; it has a strange and peculiar efficacy above all other sins to indispose the heart to religion. It is as dreadful in its punishments as it has been pernicious in its effects.—South.
Honesty is just truth in conduct; and truth is honesty in words.—Wardlaw.
Such as speak the truth in uprightness will not vary in their talk, but tell the same tale again, and be like to themselves in that which they shall say; whereas liars be in and out, affirming and denying, and speaking contradictions in the same matter. Only true men are constant in their words. First, their matter will help their memory, for that which is truth once will be truth ever. Secondly, the same Spirit that worketh a love and conscience of the truth, whereby men are made to be true, doth never cease to be the same, therefore, as it seasoneth the heart and guideth it at the first, so it will establish it, and direct the lips to the end. For sincerity and uprightness is of all things most durable, and least subject to alteration or change. And that St. Paul assigneth for a cause of his invariable constancy, that he minded not those things that he did mind according to the flesh, whereby there should be with him, yea, yea, and nay, nay (2Co_1:17).—Dod.
Truth is always consistent with itself, and needs nothing to help it out; it is always near at hand, and sits upon our lips, and is ready to drop out before we are aware; whereas a lie is troublesome, and sets a man’s invention upon the rack, and one trick needs a good many more to make it good. It is like building upon a false foundation, which constantly needs props to shore it up, and proves at last more chargeable than to have raised a substantial building at first upon a true and solid foundation.—Tillotson.
Dare to be true, nothing can need a lie:
A fault which needs it most grows two thereby.
—Herbert.
God “desireth truth in the inward parts” (Psa_51:6), and all His are “children that will not lie” (Isa_63:8); they will rather die than lie. As they “love in the truth” (2Jn_1:1) so they “speak the truth in love” (Eph_4:15), and are therefore dear to the Father in truth and love (2Jn_1:3), especially since they “do truth” as well as speak it (1Jn_1:6), and do not more desire to be truly good than they hate to seem to be so only.—Trapp.
God doth never hate anything that is not hateful, and that must needs be odious which He abhorreth, and especially when it is abomination. Ye may know by their companions among whom they are marshalled what account he maketh of them (see Rev_21:8).… That truth which is acceptable to God consisteth both in speaking and doing.
1. His Spirit doth make every man that hath attained to the one to be able to do the other. That which St. John setteth down in a more general manner doth strongly confirm this particular point. “If any man sin not in word, he is a perfect man, and able to bridle all the body.” His meaning is that some be absolute without sin in word, and perfect, without infirmity in goodness; but that many be gracious without sinfulness, though they have their slips in speeches; and sincere, without wickedness, though they have their frailties in behaviour.
2. Both are infallible and essential fruits of regeneration, and the Apostle doth thereby persuade us thereby to declare ourselves to be of the number of the saints, and faithful, saying, “Cast off lying, and let him that stole steal no more” (Eph_4:24; Eph_4:28).
3. Both are required of them that would know and manifest themselves to be natural members of the Church in this world, and inheritors of salvation in the life to come. (See Psa_15:1-2.)—Dod.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On vv17–19 v. 17. He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness;…
v. 17. He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness; breathing the atmosphere of the love of truth, he utters that which is strictly just; but a false witness deceit, he breathes and speaks lies.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv17, 19 The words of one who speaks rashly are like…
The words of one who speaks rashly are like the thrusts of a sword
The phrase, "thrusts of a sword" represents cruel words that hurt another. AT: "What a person says without thinking can hurt as much as if he stabbed with a sword" (See: Simile)
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the tongue of the wise
"Tongue" represents what a person says. AT: "what wise people say" (See: Metonymy)
brings healing
"comforts and heals"
translationWords
true
corrupt witness
word
sword
tongue
wise
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v17 12:17 The message of this proverb is repeated in…
12:17 The message of this proverb is repeated in 14:5.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.