God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 24:28
28Do not testify against your neighbor without a reason, and do not deceive with your lips.
Proverbs 24:28 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not testify against your neighbor without cause— would you use your lips to mislead?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, For would you deceive with your lips?
Context of Proverbs 24:28
26Giving a straight answer is ⌞like⌟ a kiss on the lips. 27Prepare your work outside, and get things ready for yourself in the field. Afterwards, build your house. Do not testify against your neighbor without a reason, and do not deceive with your lips. 29Do not say, “I’ll treat him as he treated me. I’ll pay him back for what he has done to me.” 30I passed by a lazy person’s field, the vineyard belonging to a person without sense.
Read all of Proverbs 24Proverbs 24:28 word by word
אַל־תְּהִ֣י עֵד־חִנָּ֣ם בְּרֵעֶ֑ךָ וַ֝הֲפִתִּ֗יתָ בִּשְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 24:28
- Proverbs 14:5A trustworthy witness does not lie, but a dishonest witness breathes lies.
- Proverbs 19:5A lying witness will not go unpunished. One who tells lies will not escape.
- Proverbs 21:28A lying witness will die, but a person who listens to advice will continue to speak.
- Exodus 20:16“Never lie when you testify about your neighbor.
- Exodus 23:1⌞The Lord continued,⌟ “Never spread false rumors. Don’t join forces with wicked people by giving false testimony.
- 1 Samuel 22:9Then Doeg from Edom, standing with Saul’s officials, answered him, “I saw Jesse’s son when he came to Ahimelech, Ahitub’s son, in Nob.
- 1 Kings 21:9In these letters she wrote: “Announce a fast. Seat Naboth as leader of the people.
- Job 2:3The Lord asked Satan, “Have you thought about my servant Job? No one in the world is like him! He is a man of integrity: He is decent, he fears God, and he stays away from evil. And he still holds on to his principles. You’re trying to provoke me into ruining him for no reason.”
- Psalms 35:7For no reason they hid their net in a pit. For no reason they dug the pit ⌞to trap me⌟.
- Matthew 26:59The chief priests and the whole council were searching for false testimony to use against Jesus in order to execute him.
- Matthew 27:23Pilate asked, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they began to shout loudly, “He should be crucified!”
- John 15:25In this way what is written in their Scriptures has come true: ‘They hate me for no reason.’
- Ephesians 4:25So then, get rid of lies. Speak the truth to each other, because we are all members of the same body.
- Colossians 3:9Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live,
- Revelation 21:8But cowardly, unfaithful, and detestable people, murderers, sexual sinners, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars will find themselves in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
- Revelation 22:15Outside are dogs, sorcerers, sexual sinners, murderers, idolaters, and all who lie in what they say and what they do.
Commentaries on Proverbs 24:28
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28Be not a witness - Do not be forward to offer thyself to bear testimony against a neighbor, in a matter which may prejudice him, where the essential claims of justice do not require such interference; and especially do not do this in a spirit of revenge, because he has injured thee before.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28Deceive not with thy lips - Better, wilt thou deceive with thy lips?Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-29Verses 28-29 There are three defaults in a witness pointed out.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 28-29Saying 4: Do not twist the truth, even for revenge (see Proverbs 6:19; 12:17; 14:25; 19:28; 24:23–24; 25:18).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2828. Do not speak even truth needlessly against any, and never falsehood.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 24:28
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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