Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Do not testify against your neighbor without cause— would you use your lips to mislead? New Living Translation Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them. English Standard Version Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. Berean Standard Bible Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. King James Bible Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. New King James Version Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, For would you deceive with your lips? New American Standard Bible Do not be a witness against your neighbor for no reason, And do not deceive with your lips. NASB 1995 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips. NASB 1977 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips. Legacy Standard Bible Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, Nor deceive with your lips. Amplified Bible Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips [speak neither lies nor half-truths]. Christian Standard Bible Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips. Holman Christian Standard Bible Don’t testify against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips. American Standard Version Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; And deceive not with thy lips. Contemporary English Version Don't accuse anyone who isn't guilty. Don't ever tell a lie English Revised Version Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. GOD'S WORD® Translation Do not testify against your neighbor without a reason, and do not deceive with your lips. Good News Translation Don't give evidence against others without good reason, or say misleading things about them. International Standard Version Don't testify against your neighbor without a cause, and don't lie when you speak. Majority Standard Bible Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. NET Bible Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your words. New Heart English Bible Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Do not deceive with your lips. Webster's Bible Translation Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. World English Bible Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionDo not be a witness against your neighbor for nothing, "" Or you have enticed with your lips. Young's Literal Translation Be not a witness for nought against thy neighbour, Or thou hast enticed with thy lips. Smith's Literal Translation Thou shalt not be a witness gratuitously against thy neighbor, and deceive not with thy lips. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleBe not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips. Catholic Public Domain Version Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips. New American Bible Do not testify falsely against your neighbor and so deceive with your lips. New Revised Standard Version Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBe not a false witness against your neighbor; and do not deceive him with your lips. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Do not be a false witness against your neighbor and do not tear him to pieces with your lips. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; And deceive not with thy lips. Brenton Septuagint Translation Be not a false witness against thy fellow citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Further Sayings of the Wise…27Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house. 28Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. 29Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”… Cross References Exodus 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Leviticus 19:11 You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another. Deuteronomy 5:20 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Psalm 15:2-3 He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart, / who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend, Psalm 101:5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; the one with haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not endure. Psalm 120:2-3 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. / What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue? 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 14:5 An honest witness does not deceive, but a dishonest witness pours forth lies. 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. 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. Treasury of Scripture Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause; and deceive not with your lips. not Proverbs 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. Proverbs 19:5,9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape… Proverbs 21:28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. deceive Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Colossians 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Jump to Previous Cause Deceive Enticed Lips Neighbor Neighbour Nought Testify Use Violent Witness WouldestJump to Next Cause Deceive Enticed Lips Neighbor Neighbour Nought Testify Use Violent Witness WouldestProverbs 24 1. Precepts and WarningsDo not testify against your neighbor without cause This phrase emphasizes the importance of truthfulness and justice in legal and personal matters. In ancient Israel, the legal system relied heavily on the testimony of witnesses. False testimony could lead to unjust outcomes, which is why the ninth commandment, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16), is so crucial. The cultural context of the time placed a high value on community relationships, and false accusations could destroy reputations and lives. This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus teaches about the importance of loving one's neighbor (Matthew 22:39) and maintaining integrity in all dealings (Matthew 5:37). and do not deceive with your lips Persons / Places / Events 1. NeighborIn the context of Proverbs, a neighbor refers to anyone with whom one has a relationship or interaction, not limited to those living nearby. The term emphasizes the importance of community and interpersonal relationships. 2. Testifying This refers to giving a statement or bearing witness, often in a legal or formal setting. In ancient Israel, testimony was crucial in legal proceedings, and false testimony could lead to severe consequences. 3. Deception The act of misleading or lying. In the biblical context, deception is strongly condemned as it undermines trust and justice. Teaching Points The Importance of TruthfulnessTruthfulness is foundational to justice and community trust. Bearing false witness can destroy relationships and lead to injustice. Guarding Our Speech We must be vigilant about the words we use, ensuring they reflect truth and integrity. Deceptive speech can have far-reaching negative consequences. The Role of Intentions Our intentions matter. Testifying against someone without cause or with deceitful intentions is not only harmful but also sinful. Community and Accountability As members of a community, we are accountable to one another. Upholding truth strengthens communal bonds and reflects God's character. Reflecting God's Character God is a God of truth. As His followers, we are called to reflect His nature by being truthful in all our dealings.(28) Without cause--i.e., do not mention thy neighbour's faults unless for some good reason, not for malice or love of gossip.Verse 28. - Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause (chinnam); gratuitously (Proverbs 3:30; Proverbs 23:29; Proverbs 26:2), when you are not obliged in the performance of a plain duty. Persons are not to put themselves forward to give testimony to a neighbour's discredit, either officiously as busybodies, or maliciously as slanderers. The maxim is expressed in general terms and is not to be confined to one category, as the Syriac and Septuagint render, "Be not a false witness against thy fellow citizen." And deceive not with thy lips. The Hebrew is really interrogative, "And wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?" (Psalm 78:36). The deceit is not so much intentional falsehood as misrepresentation arising from haste and inconsiderateness consequent on this unnecessary eagerness to push forward testimony unsought. Septuagint, "Neither exaggerate (πλατύνου) with thy lips." Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Do notאַל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not testify תְּהִ֣י (tə·hî) Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - second person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be against your neighbor בְּרֵעֶ֑ךָ (bə·rê·‘e·ḵā) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow without cause, חִנָּ֣ם (ḥin·nām) Adverb Strong's 2600: Gratis, devoid of cost, reason, advantage and do not deceive וַ֝הֲפִתִּ֗יתָ (wa·hă·p̄it·tî·ṯā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 6601: To open, be, roomy, to be, simple, delude with your lips. בִּשְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃ (biś·p̄ā·ṯe·ḵā) Preposition-b | Noun - fdc | second person masculine singular Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin Links Proverbs 24:28 NIVProverbs 24:28 NLT Proverbs 24:28 ESV Proverbs 24:28 NASB Proverbs 24:28 KJV Proverbs 24:28 BibleApps.com Proverbs 24:28 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 24:28 Chinese Bible Proverbs 24:28 French Bible Proverbs 24:28 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 24:28 Don't be a witness against your neighbor (Prov. 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