Proverbs 14:25
New International Version
A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.

New Living Translation
A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is a traitor.

English Standard Version
A truthful witness saves lives, but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

Berean Standard Bible
A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.

King James Bible
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

New King James Version
A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

New American Standard Bible
A truthful witness saves lives, But one who declares lies is deceitful.

NASB 1995
A truthful witness saves lives, But he who utters lies is treacherous.

NASB 1977
A truthful witness saves lives, But he who speaks lies is treacherous.

Legacy Standard Bible
A truthful witness delivers souls, But he who breathes out lies is deceitful.

Amplified Bible
A truthful witness saves lives, But he who speaks lies is treacherous.

Christian Standard Bible
A truthful witness rescues lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A truthful witness rescues lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.

American Standard Version
A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.

Contemporary English Version
An honest witness can save your life, but liars can't be trusted.

English Revised Version
A true witness delivereth souls: but he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
An honest witness saves lives, but one who tells lies is dangerous.

Good News Translation
A witness saves lives when he tells the truth; when he tells lies, he betrays people.

International Standard Version
A truthful witness saves lives, but the person who lies is deceitful.

Majority Standard Bible
A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful.

NET Bible
A truthful witness rescues lives, but the one who breathes lies brings deception.

New Heart English Bible
A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.

Webster's Bible Translation
A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

World English Bible
A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A true witness is delivering souls, "" And a deceitful one breathes out lies.

Young's Literal Translation
A true witness is delivering souls, And a deceitful one breatheth out lies.

Smith's Literal Translation
A witness of truth delivers souls: and deceit will breathe out lies.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A faithful witness delivereth souls: and the double dealer uttereth lies.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A faithful witness frees souls. And the chameleon utters lies.

New American Bible
The truthful witness saves lives, but whoever utters lies is a betrayer.

New Revised Standard Version
A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is a betrayer.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A true witness delivers lives; but a deceitful witness speaks falsehood.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A true witness delivers souls, and a false witness speaks deceit.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A true witness delivereth souls; But he that breatheth forth lies is all deceit.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful man kindles falsehoods.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Wise Woman
24The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the effort of fools is folly. 25A truthful witness saves lives, but one who utters lies is deceitful. 26He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.…

Cross References
John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

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

Ephesians 4:25
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.

Zechariah 8:16
These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates,

Matthew 5:37
Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Psalm 15:2
He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart,

Colossians 3:9
Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,

1 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.

James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

Psalm 119:29
Remove me from the path of deceit and graciously grant me Your law.

2 Corinthians 4:2
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Isaiah 59:14-15
So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter. / Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey. The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice.

1 Timothy 2:7
For this reason I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a faithful and true teacher of the Gentiles. I am telling the truth; I am not lying about anything.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

A true witness delivers souls: but a deceitful witness speaks lies.

Proverbs 14:5
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

Acts 20:21,26,27
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ…

Acts 26:16-20
But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; …

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Betrayer Breatheth Cause Causeth Deceit Deceitful Delivereth Forth Lies Saves Saviour Souls Speaketh Treacherous True. Truthful Uttereth Utters Witness
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Betrayer Breatheth Cause Causeth Deceit Deceitful Delivereth Forth Lies Saves Saviour Souls Speaketh Treacherous True. Truthful Uttereth Utters Witness
Proverbs 14
1. A wise woman builds her house














A truthful witness
The Hebrew word for "truthful" is "אֱמוּנָה" (emunah), which conveys a sense of faithfulness, reliability, and steadfastness. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a witness was crucial in legal proceedings, and their testimony could determine the outcome of a case. A "truthful witness" is one who adheres to the truth, reflecting God's own nature as a God of truth (Deuteronomy 32:4). This phrase underscores the importance of integrity and honesty, not only in legal matters but in all aspects of life. In a broader spiritual sense, Christians are called to be witnesses of Christ, embodying truth in their words and actions, thus "saving lives" by leading others to the truth of the Gospel.

saves lives
The Hebrew verb "יָשַׁע" (yasha) means to save, deliver, or rescue. In the context of ancient Israel, where community and familial ties were strong, the testimony of a truthful witness could literally save someone from unjust punishment or death. Spiritually, this phrase can be seen as a metaphor for the salvation that comes through the truth of the Gospel. Just as a truthful witness can save a life in a court of law, so too can the truth of Christ save souls from eternal separation from God. This highlights the transformative power of truth and the responsibility of believers to uphold it.

but one who utters lies
The Hebrew word for "utters" is "יָפִיחַ" (yaphiyach), which means to breathe out or to speak. This imagery suggests that lies are not just spoken but are exhaled, as if they are a natural outflow of the deceitful person's character. The act of lying is portrayed as a deliberate and conscious choice, contrasting sharply with the integrity of the truthful witness. In biblical times, false testimony was a serious offense, often leading to severe consequences for the accused. This phrase serves as a warning against the destructive nature of lies, which can harm individuals and communities.

is deceitful
The Hebrew word "מִרְמָה" (mirmah) means deceit, fraud, or treachery. It conveys a sense of intentional deception and betrayal. In the biblical context, deceit is often associated with sin and rebellion against God. The deceitful person is not only lying to others but is also living in opposition to God's truth. This phrase serves as a moral and spiritual admonition, reminding believers of the importance of aligning their words and actions with the truth. In a broader sense, it calls Christians to reflect on their own lives, ensuring that they are not only speaking truth but living it, thus avoiding the pitfalls of deceit and embodying the character of Christ.

Verse 25. - A true witness delivereth souls (ver. 5; Proverbs 12:17). A true witness saves persons who are in danger owing to false accusation or calumny; saves lives; "saves from evils," says the Septuagint. But a deceitful witness speaketh lies, and therewith endangers lives. Literally, He who breatheth out lies is deceit; he is a personification of fraud, dominated and informed by it; it has become his very nature. "Falsehood is the devil's daughter, and speaks her father's tongue." Septuagint, "But a deceitful witness kindles (ἐκκαίει) lies."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A truthful
אֱמֶ֑ת (’ĕ·meṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 571: Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness

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

saves
מַצִּ֣יל (maṣ·ṣîl)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver

lives,
נְ֭פָשׁוֹת (nə·p̄ā·šō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

but one who utters
וְיָפִ֖חַ (wə·yā·p̄i·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
כְּזָבִ֣ים (kə·zā·ḇîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3577: A lie, falsehood, deceptive thing

is deceitful.
מִרְמָֽה׃ (mir·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4820: Deceit, treachery


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 14:25 A truthful witness saves souls (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 14:24
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