Proverbs 12:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

NIV: Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

NASB: Truthful lips will endure forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.

CSB: Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue, only a moment.

NLT: Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.

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

NKJV: The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

This verse emphasizes that positive, truthful speech has a lasting quality. While the harm done by lies can linger (Proverbs 12:18), dishonesty tends to expose itself (Proverbs 12:13). Lies self-destruct and destroy those who make them. Truth endures because there is nothing deceptive or false about it.

In a deeper, eternal sense, words are indicators of the condition of one's heart (Matthew 15:18). Those whose lives are identified with deceit and lies are defying God. Jesus noted that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). In view here is not an occasional telling of the truth or an occasional telling of a lie, but rather, prolonged practices. Believers make it a practice—a way of life—to tell the truth, and those who make a practice—a way of life—to lie demonstrate a lack of faith in God. Believers will live forever, but unbelievers will experience judgment, the second death mentioned in Revelation 20:14.

"Only a moment" in Proverbs 12:19 translates a Hebrew phrase which means the same as the English expression "blink of an eye." Judgment will fall on unbelievers swiftly, in the blinking of an eye (Proverbs 29:1).

Proverbs 12:12–23 continues Solomon's contrast of a wise righteous person and a wicked fool. In this segment, he focuses mainly on their different speech patterns. He points out that the words of a liar are an abomination to the Lord, whereas the Lord delights in the words of a wise person.

Proverbs 12 contains a series of contrasts between lifestyles, comparing those who honor God to those who reject His wisdom. The results of those decisions are also compared. This repeats several common themes from the book of Proverbs, such as the self-destructive nature of sin and God's distaste for those who lie.

Proverbs 12 continues Solomon's wise sayings. A large portion of the book of Proverbs includes these short, common sense pieces of advice. After a series of introductions and lessons in chapters 1—9, chapter 10 began a long list of individual statements. In this chapter he continues to contrast the righteous and the wicked, showing that the life of the righteous is far better than the life of the wicked. This pattern will continue, covering the same basic theme, through chapter 15.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.