What does Proverbs 14:25 mean?

The Bible places a high value on truth. The Ten Commandments include one that commands: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). The New Testament also commands believers to speak truthfully. Ephesians 4:25 states, "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let of each of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another."

Telling the truth in court is especially important. It can save a defendant from the death penalty, or other serious harms. However, a false witness is deceitful, and his false testimony in court may cause an innocent person to receive a death sentence.

A contrast to those who live lives of honesty are those who "breathe out" deception (Proverbs 14:5). This evokes the image of a person whose life is deeply entangled in lies and deception, a person who wallows in dishonesty the way a fish swims in the water.

Our prime example of speaking the truth is our Lord Jesus Christ. "I tell the truth," He said (John 8:45). He was also identified as the living embodiment of the Truth (John 14:6).