Proverbs 19:5
New International Version
A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free.

New Living Translation
A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.

English Standard Version
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

Berean Standard Bible
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

King James Bible
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

New King James Version
A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies will not escape.

New American Standard Bible
A false witness will not go unpunished, And one who declares lies will not escape.

NASB 1995
A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.

NASB 1977
A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.

Legacy Standard Bible
A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who breathes out lies will not escape.

Amplified Bible
A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who breathes out lies will not escape.

Christian Standard Bible
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

American Standard Version
A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.

Contemporary English Version
Dishonest witnesses and liars won't escape punishment.

English Revised Version
A false witness shall not be unpunished; and he that uttereth lies shall not escape.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A lying witness will not go unpunished. One who tells lies will not escape.

Good News Translation
If you tell lies in court, you will be punished--there will be no escape.

International Standard Version
A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will not escape.

Majority Standard Bible
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

NET Bible
A false witness will not go unpunished, and the one who spouts out lies will not escape punishment.

New Heart English Bible
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.

Webster's Bible Translation
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

World English Bible
A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A false witness is not acquitted, "" Whoever breathes out lies is not delivered.

Young's Literal Translation
A false witness is not acquitted, Whoso breatheth out lies is not delivered.

Smith's Literal Translation
A witness of falsehoods shall not be unpunished, and he breathing out lies shall not escape.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A false witness shall not go unpunished. And whoever speaks lies will not escape.

New American Bible
The false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever utters lies will not escape.

New Revised Standard Version
A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will not escape.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall not escape.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A false witness will not be spared and he that speaks falsehood will not be saved.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that breatheth forth lies shall not escape.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that accuses unjustly shall not escape.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Man of Integrity
4Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend. 5A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape. 6Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.…

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

Deuteronomy 19:16-19
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. / The judges shall investigate thoroughly, and if the witness is proven to be a liar who has falsely accused his brother, ...

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 12:22
Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

Proverbs 14:5
An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.

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

Proverbs 24:28
Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

Isaiah 5:20-23
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. / Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. / Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and champions in mixing strong drink, ...

Jeremiah 9:3-6
“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 12:36-37
But I tell you that men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. / For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 15:18-20
But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man. / For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. / These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.”

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

Mark 14:56-59
For many bore false witness against Jesus, but their testimony was inconsistent. / Then some men stood up and testified falsely against Him: / “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple, and in three days I will build another that is made without hands.’” ...


Treasury of Scripture

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall not escape.

FALSE

Proverbs 19:9
A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

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

Proverbs 21:28
A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

unpunished or held innocent

Deuteronomy 5:11
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

1 Kings 2:9
Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood.

Jump to Previous
Acquitted Breather Breatheth Deceit Escape Forth Free Held Innocent Lies Pours Punishment Speaketh Tells Unpunished Uttereth Utters Witness
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Proverbs 19
1. Life and Conduct














A false witness
The phrase "a false witness" refers to someone who deliberately gives untrue testimony. In the Hebrew context, the word for "false" is "שָׁקֶר" (sheqer), which means deception or lie. The term "witness" is "עֵד" (ed), indicating someone who testifies or provides evidence. In ancient Israel, the integrity of a witness was crucial for justice, as legal systems heavily relied on oral testimony. The ninth commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16), underscores the importance of truthfulness. A false witness disrupts justice and community trust, which are foundational to a godly society.

will not go unpunished
This phrase emphasizes the certainty of divine justice. The Hebrew word for "unpunished" is "נָקָה" (naqah), meaning to be acquitted or held guiltless. The negative form here assures that those who bear false witness will face consequences. In a broader biblical context, this reflects God's nature as just and righteous. Proverbs often contrasts the fate of the wicked and the righteous, affirming that God sees all actions and will ensure justice prevails, even if it seems delayed in human terms.

and one who pours out lies
The imagery of "pours out lies" suggests an abundance and intentionality in deceit. The Hebrew verb "יָפִיחַ" (yaphiyach) means to breathe out or emit, indicating a habitual or natural tendency to lie. This phrase highlights the character of a person who is not just occasionally dishonest but consistently so. In biblical times, such a person would be seen as corrupt and dangerous, undermining social and religious order. The Bible consistently warns against deceit, as it is contrary to God's truth and character.

will not escape
The phrase "will not escape" reinforces the inevitability of judgment for those who lie. The Hebrew root "מָלַט" (malat) means to slip away or be delivered. Here, it is used in the negative, assuring that evildoers cannot evade divine retribution. This serves as both a warning and a comfort: a warning to those tempted by dishonesty and a comfort to those wronged by lies, knowing that God will ultimately uphold justice. The certainty of God's judgment is a recurring theme in Proverbs, encouraging believers to live righteously and trust in God's sovereign justice.

Verse 5. - This verse is repeated below (ver. 9). It comes in awkwardly here, interrupting the connection which subsists between vers. 4 and 6. Its right place is doubtless where it occurs below. The Law not only strictly forbade false witness (Exodus 20:16; Exodus 23:1), but it enacted severe penalties against offenders in this particular (Deuteronomy 19:16, etc.); the lex talionis was to be enforced against them, they were to receive no pity: "Life shall be for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." He that speaketh lies shall not escape. The Septuagint confines the notion of this clause to false accusers, Ὁ δὲ ἐγκαλῶν ἀδίκως, "He who maketh an unjust charge shall not escape," which renders the two clauses almost synonymous. We make a distinction between the members by seeing in the former a denunciation against a false witness in a suit, and in the second a more sweeping menace against any one, whether accuser, slanderer, sycophant, who by lying injures a neighbour. The History of Susanna is brought forward in confirmation of the well deserved fate of false accusers.

Ψευδὴς διαβολὴ τὸν βίον λυμαίνεται.

"A slander is an outrage on man's life."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A false
שְׁ֭קָרִים (qā·rîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8267: Deception, disappointment, falsehood

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

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

go unpunished,
יִנָּקֶ֑ה (yin·nā·qeh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5352: To be, clean, to be bare, extirpated

and one who utters
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

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

escape.
יִמָּלֵֽט׃ (yim·mā·lêṭ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4422: To be smooth, to escape, to release, rescue, to bring forth young, emit sparks


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished (Prov. Pro Pr)
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