November 21, 2014. A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. This wise saying offers a very strong warning to any and all who are dishonest in their dealings with others.
According to Proverbs 26:28, “A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”
A lying tongue: A lying tongue is a reminder that all words count. All words have consequences and that all our words will be judged by God. This is why in Proverbs 18:21 we are warned: life and death are in the power of the tongue. When we lie, we trample on the greatness and dignity that God has placed in all humans.
Proverbs 12:19 New King James Version (NKJV)
The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
"Truth telling" is a higher standard than "not lying." Lying is purposely distorting the truth. Bearing false witness, on the other hand, can be the result of inattentiveness -- saying something that might be true but hasn't been verified. Repeating a rumor isn't necessarily lying, but it's bearing false witness.
Lie & liar
The word lie can be used as a verb, meaning to tell something that is not true; it can also be used as a noun in the same situation. And the word liar means a person who tells lies.
Zephania 3:13. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.
Ephesians 4:25, NLT So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. Exodus 23:1, NLT You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand.
Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers ...
Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come."
One of the Ten Commandments is "thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour"; for this reason, lying is generally considered a sin in Christianity. The story of Naboth in 1 Kings 21 provides an example where false witness leads to an unjust outcome.
Some of the most common sins we commit are related to speech: gossip, idle chatter, lies, exaggeration, harsh attack and uncharitable remarks. With a gift capable of bringing such good, we can surely cause great harm! - The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy (Proverbs 12:22).
At the same time, lying can also create problems. Lying can be cognitively depleting, it can increase the risk that people will be punished, it can threaten people's self-worth by preventing them from seeing themselves as “good” people, and it can generally erode trust in society.
The word haughty comes from an old Anglo-French word, haut, which means “high,” and which comes from the Latin word altus, from which we get our word altitude. Putting all that together, we find that haughty eyes are the kind of eyes that look down at other people, as if the one looking down is “higher up” than others.
Psalm 106:38 And shed innocent blood, even blood of their sons and of their daughters,/; and polluted the land with blood. Proverbs 6:16, 17... These six things doeth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.
to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive. to express what is false; convey a false impression. verb (used with object), lied, ly·ing.
Proverbs 12:17
Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.
Lying can be a symptom of some mental health conditions according to a 2021 review, including borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may lie to mask compulsions or stop friends and family from worrying about their behaviors.
Lying and denial are central to gaslighting because it makes the victim question their reality and even start to believe the lies despite knowing their untruthfulness. The victim must keep a record of what is said and what happens to help them confirm the truth.
Someone who lies a lot may be called a “pathological liar.” Dishonesty isn't a good habit, but it doesn't always fit the definition of pathological lying. Pathological liars are frequently untruthful for no good reason. They harm themselves with their behavior, but keep doing it despite any consequences.