Proverbs 19:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.

NIV: A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.

NASB: A false witness will not go unpunished, And one who declares lies will perish.

CSB: A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies perishes.

NLT: A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed.

KJV: A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

NKJV: A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who speaks lies shall perish.

This verse repeats the teaching given earlier (Proverbs 19:5), but with a more drastic conclusion. The earlier comment said such a person would not escape; this one says they face death. Repetition, especially in ancient writing, is a deliberate way of creating emphasis. In the most literal sense, the "false witness" is one who lies in a courtroom setting. This is a serious offense, called "perjury" in modern laws. It's also a moral crime—lying about or against other people is a despicable act (Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 6:16–19).

The person who lies in court might suffer penalties, including death in extreme situations. Yet the unredeemed liar is also at risk of divine wrath. Revelation chapter 20 draws back the curtain on the great white throne judgment and allows readers to see what happens to all whose names are not found in the book of life. They are cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 21:8 identifies the kinds of people that will be thrown into eternal suffering. This verse says, "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

Proverbs 19:8–21 continues Solomon's observations about wisdom and foolishness, a king's wrath, household turmoil, and human plans as compared to divine sovereignty. A theme of these proverbs is the danger of ignoring godly wisdom, while placing too much reliance on one's own ability. A wise person is prudent, diligent, and honest. At the same time, wisdom means realizing that not all plans work out.

Several themes are associated with these statements. Among them are the idea that personal integrity is worth much more than earthly wealth or success. Solomon discusses the unfortunate habit of favoring the rich and dismissing the poor, while commending those who care for the unfortunate. Many references are made to the consequences of foolish behavior, including the shame and punishment such things can bring.

This series of proverbs is part of Solomon's writing on wisdom (Proverbs 10:1), a long chain continuing into chapter 22. As do other segments, this speaks on the harsh realities of poverty, the need for integrity, the dangers of laziness, the value of loving discipline, and the consequences of acting foolishly.

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.