What other Proverbs warn against deceitful speech and its consequences? The Heart–Tongue Connection in Proverbs 17:20 “One with a perverse heart finds no good, and he who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.” The verse ties a crooked heart to crooked words, then shows the inevitable crash-landing: “trouble.” The rest of Proverbs keeps circling this truth, adding color and detail. Proverbs That Show How Deceit Hurts the Speaker • Proverbs 10:18 – “He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool.” • Proverbs 10:31 – “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.” • Proverbs 12:13 – “An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.” • Proverbs 13:3 – “He who guards his mouth protects his life, but the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.” • Proverbs 18:7 – “A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.” • Proverbs 19:5 – “A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.” • Proverbs 21:6 – “Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.” Each line warns that deceit rebounds on the speaker—ruin, punishment, or sudden loss. Proverbs That Show How Deceit Hurts Others • Proverbs 11:9 – “With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor.” • Proverbs 16:27–28 – “A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like scorching fire… A gossip divides close friends.” • Proverbs 25:18 – “Like a club or sword or sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.” • Proverbs 26:18–19 – “Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows is one who deceives his neighbor and says, ‘I was only joking!’” • Proverbs 29:5 – “A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.” Lies don’t just implode; they explode, wounding relationships, reputations, even entire communities. Proverbs That Reveal How God Responds to Deceit • Proverbs 12:22 – “Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.” • Proverbs 19:9 – “A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.” • Proverbs 20:17 – “Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.” • Proverbs 26:28 – “A lying tongue hates those it harms, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” God’s verdict is clear: deceit stirs His holy disgust and triggers sure judgment. The Bright Alternative—Truthful Speech and Its Rewards • Proverbs 12:19 – “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” • Proverbs 14:25 – “A truthful witness saves lives.” • Proverbs 15:4 – “A gentle tongue is a tree of life.” • Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” The wise choice? Let integrity guard the heart so that life-giving words flow out, avoiding the “trouble” promised in Proverbs 17:20. |
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