Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
The second thing God hates is “a lying tongue.”
It is better always to tell the truth. That way you won’t have the extra burden of trying to keep track of just what was it you told an untruth about. Only in an extreme case where telling the truth will lead to the harm of another individual would it be proper to not tell the full truth.
As Bible believing Christians we need to always do what is a good witness to our faith in Jesus Christ. Telling lies does not at all conform to what a good testimony should be.
Being caught in a lie ought never to happen in the life of a true Bible believing Christian.
I think the best way to find out what the Bible says about the subject of lying as it relates to Proverbs 6:17 is to consult the cross references in The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury given for the key words a lying tongue and consider them carefully. Let me walk you through those references in turn:
lying. *Pro 12:22; Pro 14:5; Pro 26:28, Psa 5:6; Psa 120:2-3, *Hos 4:1; *Hos 4:2, *Joh 8:44, +Eph 4:25, *Rev 22:15.
(1) Pro 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight. (KJV)
Pro 12:22 The LORD hates every liar, but he is the friend of all who can be trusted. (CEV)
It would be a good idea to sustain a relationship with the LORD that results in His continued friendship, and not be a person the LORD hates. We ought to delight in the Lord, and live in a way that the LORD delights in us.
A cross reference given at Proverbs 12:22 that is not given at Proverbs 6:17 is the reference to Revelation 21:8,
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Note carefully the words, “and all liars,” and their promised destiny. Jesus once said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). If you have a habit of lying, you surely must repent of this evil trait, and ask the Lord for His help in controlling your thought process and your tongue!
(2) Pro 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. (KJV)
Pro 14:5 An honest witness tells the truth; a dishonest witness tells nothing but lies. (CEV)
Pro 14:5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. (ESV)
Proverbs 14:5 emphasizes that a liar breathes out lies, that is, tells nothing but lies. No true Christian should ever fit this description!
(3) Pro 26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. (KJV)
Pro 26:28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin. (ESV)
Pro 26:28 Watch out for anyone who tells lies and flatters– they are out to get you. (CEV)
The strategies of the liar are made clear. The lesson: steer clear of such persons. They will do you no good. Especially is this true when a young man pursues a woman, or a young woman pursues a man. If either person may be characterized as a liar, drop the relationship. The same must be our stance in business and financial relationships. No true Christian ought ever be involved in trying to establish a relationship on the basis of untruthfulness. If you think you must lie to secure a desired relationship, you are trying to involve yourself with someone that is surely not right for you. It is time you draw close to God so He can draw close to you and direct you in the way you should go (Psalm 32:8). Trying to arrange things the way you want without following the guidance found in God’s Word is a very grave mistake.
(4) Psa 5:6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. (KJV)
Psa 5:6 You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. (ESV)
Psa 5:6 You destroy every liar, and you despise violence and deceit.
If you keep up the habit of lying, the result will be your destruction. Clearly, lying is not the way to conduct your life and what you have to say.
(5) Psa 120:2 Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.
Psa 120:3 What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
Psa 120:2 Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.
Psa 120:3 What shall be given to you, and what more shall be done to you, you deceitful tongue? (ESV)
Psa 120:2 “Come and save me, LORD, from deceitful liars!”
Psa 120:3 What punishment is fitting for you deceitful liars? (CEV)
(6) Hos 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
Hos 4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
Hos 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land;
Hos 4:2 there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. (ESV)
Hos 4:1 Israel, listen as the LORD accuses everyone in the land! No one is faithful or loyal or truly cares about God.
Hos 4:2 Cursing, dishonesty, murder, robbery, unfaithfulness– these happen all the time. Violence is everywhere. (CEV)
When a person or nation does not truly care about God, lying becomes more prevalent. The cure for lying is to get right with God and make Him the priority in your life.
(7) Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (ESV)
Joh 8:44 Your father is the devil, and you do exactly what he wants. He has always been a murderer and a liar. There is nothing truthful about him. He speaks on his own, and everything he says is a lie. Not only is he a liar himself, but he is also the father of all lies. (CEV)
Just as when Satan lies he speaks out of his own character, that character flaw can be a problem in our own lives until we fully commit ourselves to trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and doing His will.
(8) Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (ESV)
Eph 4:25 We are part of the same body. Stop lying and start telling each other the truth. (CEV)
Eph 4:25 So you must lay aside falsehood and each of you practice telling the truth to his neighbor, for we are parts of one another. (Charles B. Williams NT)
There is deeper truth to be learned from Ephesians 4:25 than is expressed in our usual English translations. The Lavender New Testament is a very recent translation which conveys in English the distinctions present in the Greek grammar, distinctions usually lost in translation. Here is the note on Ephesians 4:25 as I have given it in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:
putting away. or, having put. or, having already put aside. Having already put aside translates the force of the aorist participle, apothemenoi, used of past time. “The kind of action in the aorist participle is punctiliar, i.e., finished action” (Summers, § 73, (6)). Here and at other important texts, translations represent the inspired writers as giving exhortation/instruction to their Christian readers to do something with respect to sin, something not yet done: “you must put off” (Eph 4:25; NIV); “let us lay aside” (Heb 12:1, NKJ); “casting away” (Jas 1:21, DV); “putting aside” (1Pe 2:1, NASB); thus making it seem as if the Christian is always in process of putting away sin, but never actually saved from sinning or the carnal nature in this life. But the aorist participle shows finished action in past time, and so translated: “having already put aside” (Eph 4:25); “having already taken off and laid aside” (Heb 12:1); “having already taken off” (Jas 1:21); “having already put off” (1Pe 2:1). Catholicism and large segments of Protestantism do not believe that Jesus can actually save/deliver from all sin now, as the Scriptures teach (cf. Eph 1:7; Eph 4:24; Mat 1:21; Joh 3:3; Joh 17:17; Rom 1:1; Rom 1:17; Rom 5:1; Rom 6:1, 2, 3; Rom 6:6, 7; Rom 6:14, 15; Rom 6:17; Rom 7:14; Rom 16:25; 1Co 6:9, 10, 11; 1Jn 1:9; 1Jn 2:1 and notes) [LNT, fn s]. Gr. apotithēmi (S# G659, Eph 4:22). Eph 4:22, Isa 1:16.
Rev 22:11 Evil people will keep on being evil, and everyone who is dirty-minded will still be dirty-minded. But good people will keep on doing right, and God’s people will always be holy.
(9) Rev 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Rev 22:15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (ESV)
Rev 22:12 Then I was told: I am coming soon! And when I come, I will reward everyone for what they have done.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.
Rev 22:14 God will bless all who have washed their robes. They will each have the right to eat fruit from the tree that gives life, and they can enter the gates of the city.
Rev 22:15 But outside the city will be dogs, witches, immoral people, murderers, idol worshipers, and everyone who loves to tell lies and do wrong. (CEV)
The Bible plainly tells us that everyone who loves to tell lies and do wrong will not enter heaven. The list given in Revelation 22:15 excludes anyone who is sexually immoral as well. Anyone who practices these sins must understand that these sins will cost them the gift of eternal life which they could have had, if only they would have truly believed on the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation.
If you have developed a habit of lying, you must repent and forsake that sin, or it will not only get you in trouble in this life, it will keep you out of heaven and God’s eternal kingdom in the next life.
That is surely why God has placed the sin of lying on His list of the seven things that He hates.