Skill in Telling Lies
Proverbs 12:19
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.


The lying tongue succeeds indeed, but its success is momentary; it flashes and expires; it has a clear, straightforward story to tell, but events come, and cross-examine that story, and set it in proper distance and perspective; alliances to which the story owed its consistency are broken up, and evil men begin to divulge secrets regarding one another; piece by piece the story falls asunder, and at the end it is found that it was the fabrication of a malignant genius. Be sure you are true yourselves, and have a true purpose in view, and all discrepancies, inconsistencies, and difficulties will ultimately be smoothed down, and men will be brought to acknowledge the integrity of your heart. Be as skilful as you please in the way of telling lies, arrange everything with consummate cunning, hire all your allies, bribe your spies, and make your way clear by abundance of gold, and yet in the long run your confederates will turn against you, and they to whom you have given most money will be glad to expose your cupidity and falsehood.

(J. Parker, D.D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

WEB: Truth's lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.




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