Proverbs 14:5
New International Version
An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.

New Living Translation
An honest witness does not lie; a false witness breathes lies.

English Standard Version
A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

Berean Standard Bible
An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.

King James Bible
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

New King James Version
A faithful witness does not lie, But a false witness will utter lies.

New American Standard Bible
A trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness declares lies.

NASB 1995
A trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness utters lies.

NASB 1977
A faithful witness will not lie, But a false witness speaks lies.

Legacy Standard Bible
A faithful witness will not lie, But a false witness breathes out lies.

Amplified Bible
A faithful and trustworthy witness will not lie, But a false witness speaks lies.

Christian Standard Bible
An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness utters lies.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness utters lies.

American Standard Version
A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.

Contemporary English Version
An honest witness tells the truth; a dishonest witness tells nothing but lies.

English Revised Version
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness uttereth lies.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A trustworthy witness does not lie, but a dishonest witness breathes lies.

Good News Translation
A reliable witness always tells the truth, but an unreliable one tells nothing but lies.

International Standard Version
A trustworthy witness does not deceive, but a false witness spews lies.

Majority Standard Bible
An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.

NET Bible
A truthful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

New Heart English Bible
A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.

Webster's Bible Translation
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

World English Bible
A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A faithful witness does not lie, "" And a false witness breathes out lies.

Young's Literal Translation
A faithful witness lieth not, And a false witness breatheth out lies.

Smith's Literal Translation
A witness of faithfulnesses will not lie: and a witness of falsehood will breathe out lies.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A faithful witness will not lie: but a deceitful witness uttereth a lie.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A faithful witness will not lie. But a deceitful witness offers a lie.

New American Bible
A trustworthy witness does not lie, but one who spouts lies makes a lying witness.

New Revised Standard Version
A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A faithful witness will not deceive; but a false witness will utter lies.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A trustworthy witness is not false and he that speaks falsehood is a false witness.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness breatheth forth lies.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Wise Woman
4Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox. 5An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies. 6A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.…

Cross References
Exodus 20:16
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Deuteronomy 19:15-21
A lone witness is not sufficient to establish any wrongdoing or sin against a man, regardless of what offense he may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. / If a false witness testifies against someone, accusing him of a crime, / both parties to the dispute must stand in the presence of the LORD, before the priests and judges who are in office at that time. ...

Psalm 27:12
Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.

Psalm 35:11
Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.

Psalm 101:7
No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who tells lies shall stand in my presence.

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

Proverbs 12:17
He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit.

Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

Proverbs 19:9
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.

Proverbs 21:28
A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.

Isaiah 59:4
No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

Jeremiah 9:3-5
“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD. / “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander. / Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity.

Zechariah 8:16-17
These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates, / do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD.

Matthew 5:11
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.

Matthew 26:59-60
Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. / But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward


Treasury of Scripture

A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

Proverbs 4:25
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Proverbs 6:19
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 12:17
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

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Breathes Breatheth Breathing Deceit Deceive Faithful Forth Lie Pours True. Trustworthy Truthful Utter Uttereth Utters Witness
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Proverbs 14
1. A wise woman builds her house














A faithful witness
The phrase "a faithful witness" in Proverbs 14:5 refers to someone who consistently tells the truth. The Hebrew word for "faithful" is "אֱמוּנָה" (emunah), which conveys a sense of steadfastness, reliability, and trustworthiness. In the context of ancient Israel, a witness held a crucial role in legal and communal matters, where truth-telling was essential for justice. A faithful witness reflects God's own nature, as He is the ultimate source of truth. This phrase encourages believers to emulate God's faithfulness in their own lives, serving as reliable witnesses in both word and deed.

will not lie
The phrase "will not lie" underscores the moral integrity expected of a faithful witness. The Hebrew verb "כָּזַב" (kazab) means to lie or deceive. In the biblical context, lying is not merely a social faux pas but a violation of God's commandments, as seen in the Ninth Commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). This phrase serves as a reminder that truthfulness is a divine mandate, and believers are called to uphold truth in all circumstances, reflecting the character of Christ, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).

but a false witness
The phrase "but a false witness" introduces a contrast to the faithful witness. The Hebrew word for "false" is "שֶׁקֶר" (sheker), which denotes deception, falsehood, and untruth. A false witness distorts reality, leading to injustice and harm. In ancient Israel, false testimony could have dire consequences, including the perversion of justice and the destruction of innocent lives. This phrase warns against the destructive power of lies and the moral decay that accompanies deceit, urging believers to reject falsehood in all its forms.

breathes out lies
The phrase "breathes out lies" vividly depicts the habitual nature of deceit in a false witness. The Hebrew verb "יָפִיחַ" (yaphiach) means to breathe or to emit, suggesting that lies flow naturally and continuously from a false witness, much like breathing. This imagery highlights the deep-seated corruption in the heart of a liar, contrasting sharply with the integrity of a faithful witness. For believers, this serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of allowing deceit to take root in one's life, emphasizing the importance of cultivating a heart aligned with God's truth.

Verse 5. - A repetition of Proverbs 12:17 (see also Proverbs 6:19). A faithful witness cannot be induced to swerve from the truth by threat or bribe. Will utter; Hebrew, breatheth forth. A false witness with no compulsion, as it were naturally, puts forth lies (comp. ver. 25; Proverbs 19:5). Septuagint, " An unrighteous witness kindleth (ἐκκαίει) falsehood."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
An honest
אֱ֭מוּנִים (’ĕ·mū·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 529: Established, trusty, trustworthiness

witness
עֵ֣ד (‘êḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince

does not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

deceive,
יְכַזֵּ֑ב (yə·ḵaz·zêḇ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3576: To lie, be a liar

but a dishonest
שָֽׁקֶר׃ (šā·qer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8267: Deception, disappointment, falsehood

witness
עֵ֣ד (‘êḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince

pours forth
וְיָפִ֥יחַ (wə·yā·p̄î·aḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6315: To puff, blow with the breath, air, to fan, to utter, to kindle, to scoff

lies.
כְּ֝זָבִ֗ים (kə·zā·ḇîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3577: A lie, falsehood, deceptive thing


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 14:5 A truthful witness will not lie (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 14:4
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