A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
Parallel Translations
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A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
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An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
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An ungodly witness mocketh at right; and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
Cross-references (12)
Passages linked to Proverbs 19:28 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Job 15:16 how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks iniquity like water!
- Job 34:7 What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water,
- Luke 18:2-4 saying, “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God, and didn’t respect man. A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’ He wouldn’t for a while, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God, nor respect man,
- Acts 6:11-13 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, then brought him in to the council, and set up false witnesses who said, “This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.
- 1 Kings 21:13 The two men, the wicked fellows, came in and sat before him. The wicked 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, though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
- 1 Kings 21:10 Set two men, wicked 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.”
- Psalms 10:5 His ways are prosperous at all times. He is arrogant, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
- Psalms 10:11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”
- Proverbs 15:14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
- Isaiah 28:14-18 Therefore hear Yahweh’s word, you scoffers, that rule this people in Jerusalem: “Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and we are in agreement with Sheol. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it won’t come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and we have hidden ourselves under falsehood.’ ” Therefore the Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily. I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. Your covenant with death shall be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand. When the overflowing scourge passes through, then you will be trampled down by it.
- Hosea 4:8 They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (16 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Taketh a pleasure and delight therein, as gluttons and…
Taketh a pleasure and delight therein, as gluttons and drunkards in delicate meats and drinks.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 19:28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the…
Pro 19:28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
Ver. 28. An ungodly witness scorneth judgment.] As if he were out of the reach of God’s rod. And because "judgment is not presently executed, therefore his heart is set in him to do wickedly," {Ecc 8:11 Psa 50:21} he looks upon God as an abettor of his perjury. His mouth devoureth iniquity, as some savoury morsel. But know they not that there will be bitterness in the end? Let them but mark what follows.
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 Scorneth judgment; hath no reverence to the place of…
Scorneth judgment; hath no reverence to the place of justice, nor to the presence of God there, nor to that sacred and solemn work of executing judgment, but in spite of all gives in a false testimony.
Devoureth iniquity; uttereth with as great greediness, and delight, and ease, as they swallow down delicious meats and drinks. Compare Job 15:16.
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 Here is a description of the worst of sinners,…
Here is a description of the worst of sinners, whose hearts are fully set in them to do evil. 1. They set that at defiance which would deter and detain them from sin: An ungodly witness is one that bears false witness against his neighbour, and will forswear himself to do another a mischief, in which there is not only great injustice, but great impiety; this is one of the worst of men. Or an ungodly witness is one that profanely and atheistically witnesses against religion and godliness, whose instructions seduce from the words of knowledge (Pro 19:27); such a one scorns judgment, laughs at the terrors of the Lord, mocks at that fear, Job 15:26. Tell him of law and equity, that the scriptures and an oath are sacred things, and not to be jested with, that there will come a reckoning day; he laughs at it all, and scorns to heed it. 2. They are greedy, and glad of that which gives them an opportunity to sin: The mouth of the wicked eagerly devours iniquity, drinks it in like water, Job 15:16.
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 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment,.... Or, "a witness of…
An ungodly witness scorneth judgment,.... Or, "a witness of Belial" (z). A false witness is not awed by the place of judgment where he is; nor by the judge before whom he is; nor by the law, the rule of judgment, nor by the punishment of perjury; he scorns all these, and scoffs at them, and proceeds in bearing a false testimony: or he covers that which is right and just, and eludes judgment by specious and sophistic arguments and pretences. Or this may be understood of a false teacher, that scorns the rule of judgment, or colours over things, to make them plausible, and seem to be agreeable to it;
and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity; greedily, and with pleasure commits it; as a hungry man takes in his food; or a thirsty man drinks down water: and in like manner are false doctrines imbibed by men of perverse minds.
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(z) "testis Belijahal", Montanus, Tigurine version, Baynus.
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 Scorneth - Hath no reverence to the place of…
Scorneth - Hath no reverence to the place of justice, nor to the presence of God there. Devoureth - Utters it with greediness and delight.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Pro 19:28. An ungodly witness scorneth judgment — Hath…
Pro 19:28. An ungodly witness scorneth judgment — Hath no reverence to the place of justice, nor to the presence of God there, nor to that sacred and solemn work, of executing judgment, but, in spite of all, gives in a false testimony. And the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity — Uttereth it with as great greediness, delight, and ease, as they swallow down delicious meats and drinks; or, is as eager to commit it in word and deed, as if it were as necessary to their well-being as the food they eat.
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 Ungodly witness - literally, “Witness of Belial,” “worthless,” “untruthful.”
Ungodly witness - literally, “Witness of Belial,” “worthless,” “untruthful.”
Devoureth iniquity - Seizes on it eagerly, as a dainty, lives on it.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain Justly is the man called a witness of Belial.…
Justly is the man called a witness of Belial. Satan himself hath suborned him for his own malicious purposes.†1 Scorning, instead of regarding judgment, his testimony is worthless. He has "cast the law behind his back." He devours iniquity with greediness, feeds upon it as his proper food, and, sinning without remorse, he is always ready to trade in his deceit, either for gain or revenge.
But in this greedy devouring he has swallowed the hook with the bait. For such scorners judgments are prepared. For such fools as thus "make a mock of sin" (Pro 14:9 ) — stripes are ready for their backs, often inflicted by men, the instruments of God. Scorners are warned "lest their bands be made strong" (Isa 28:22 ) for judgment, which, however they may despise, they cannot resist. Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the day that I shall deal with thee? Who shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who shall dwell with everlasting burnings? It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.†2 Oh! that thoughtless, light-minded young persons would lay such words to heart! When they join in the laugh of their more hardened companions, and learn from them to scorn judgment, in spite of the accusings of a conscience not yet silenced; let them tremble, lest from "standing in the way of sinners," they may go on to "sit in the seat of the scornful" (Psa 1:1 ), and may even exceed their companions in despising the threatenings of God.
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And when under these slighted judgments, who is to blame for them? ’Our sin’ — saith Bishop Hall — ’is our own, and the wages of sin is death. He that doth the work, earns the wages. So then the righteous God is cleared both of our sin and our death. Only his justice pays us what our evil deeds deserve. What a wretched thing is a willful sinner, that will needs be guilty of his own death!’†3 Blessed — blessed day! should it ever see him bemoaning himself thus — "Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God." (Jer 31:18 .)
Footnotes:
†1 1Ki 21:13 . Such was the keen description of the Roman Satirist —
Tam facile et pronum est Superos contemnere testes, &c.
Juven. Sat. xiii. 75.
†2 Eze 22:14. Isa 33:14 . Heb 10:31 .
†3 Works, viii. 156.
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain ungodly witness--(Compare Margin), one false by bad principles (compare…
ungodly witness--(Compare Margin), one false by bad principles (compare Pro 6:12).
scorneth judgment--sets at naught the dictates of justice.
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devoureth--literally, "swalloweth," as something delightful.
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 28. An ungodly witness — One not of God,…
28. An ungodly witness — One not of God, untruthful.
Scorneth judgment — Mocketh, derideth it. He hath no concern that justice be done.
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Devoureth iniquity — Greedily, as a dainty morsel.
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 28. ungodly] Rather, worthless. See Pro_6:12, note.
28. ungodly] Rather, worthless. See Pro_6:12, note.
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 (28) An ungodly (worthless) witness scorneth judgment.—Despises the orders…
(28) An ungodly (worthless) witness scorneth judgment.—Despises the orders of the Law to avoid perjury (Exo_20:16; Lev_5:1). (Comp. 1Ki_8:31).
The mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.—As a dainty morsel. (Comp. Pro_18:8.)
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 An ungodly (worthless) witness scorneth judgment; derides the Law…
An ungodly (worthless) witness scorneth judgment; derides the Law which denounces perjury and compels a witness to speak truth, (Exo_20:16 Lev_5:1) and, as is implied he bears false testimony, thus proving himself "a witness of Belial," according to the Hebrew term. Septuagint, "He who becometh security for a foolish child outrages judgment." The mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity; swallows it eagerly as a toothsome morsel. (Pro_18:8) So we have in Job_15:16,"A man that drinketh iniquity like water". see on Pro_26:6) Such a man will lie and slander with the utmost pleasure, living and battening on wickedness. Septuagint, "The mouth of the impious drinketh judgments (kriseiv )," i.e. boldly transgresses the Law.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain v. 28. An ungodly witness, one who is worthless,…
v. 28. An ungodly witness, one who is worthless, vain, and wicked in the sight of God, scorneth judgment, scoffing at the righteous punishment which is threatened; and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity, he desires mischief most passionately, he cannot get enough.
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 the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity
the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity
This speaks of how wicked people enjoy doing evil by saying that they swallow iniquity as easily as they swallow food. AT: "the wicked enjoy doing evil as much as they enjoy eating food" (See: Metaphor)
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the mouth of the wicked swallows
The phrase "the mouth of the wicked" represents wicked people. AT: "wicked people swallow" or "the wicked swallow" (See: Synecdoche)
the wicked
This refers to wicked people. AT: "the wicked person" (See: Nominal Adjectives)
Condemnation is ready for mockers and flogging for
The words "condemnation" and "flogging" may be expressed as verbs. AT: "Yahweh is ready to condemn mockers and to flog" (See: Abstract Nouns)
flogging for the backs of fools
The words "is ready" are understood from the previous phrase and may be repeated. AT: "flogging is ready for the backs of fools" or "he is ready to flog the backs" (See: Ellipsis)
flogging
beating with a whip or stick
translationWords
corrupt witness
mock
just
evil
iniquity
condemn
fool
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.