What are the consequences of "a lying tongue" according to Proverbs 12:19?

Setting the Verse in Front of Us

“Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.” (Proverbs 12:19)

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What the Verse Says About a Lying Tongue

• Its lifespan is brief—“only a moment.”

• It carries no enduring substance; whatever advantage it gains disappears as quickly as it comes.

• By contrast, truth has permanence, stability, and God’s approval.

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Consequences Unpacked

• Exposure is inevitable. The short life of a lie means the truth soon overtakes it (Luke 12:2–3).

• Trust collapses. Once credibility is lost, relationships fracture (Proverbs 25:18).

• Divine judgment follows. “No one who practices deceit will dwell in My house” (Psalm 101:7).

• Inner turmoil grows. Lies demand more lies, robbing the speaker of peace (Psalm 32:3–4).

• Opportunity evaporates. Because the lie “lasts only a moment,” any temporary gain quickly turns into lasting loss (Proverbs 10:9).

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Supporting Passages That Reinforce the Warning

• Proverbs 19:9 – “He who breathes out lies will perish.”

• Revelation 21:8 – “All liars—their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.”

• Ephesians 4:25 – “Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully.”

• Proverbs 6:16–19 lists “a lying tongue” among the seven things the LORD hates.

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Living in the Light of Proverbs 12:19

• Cultivate habits of honesty—small daily truths train the tongue for bigger tests.

• Confess quickly when false words slip out; lingering deception increases damage.

• Replace half-truths with full transparency; truth builds the “forever” kind of reputation.

• Memorize key verses (Proverbs 12:19; Ephesians 4:25) to guard speech in pressure moments.

Truth lasts; lies leak. Choose the enduring path.