“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” – Proverbs 12:22
bible verses about dishonesty
Understanding Dishonesty
Proverbs 6:16-19
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
Proverbs 12:22
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
Proverbs 14:25
“A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.”
Proverbs 19:9
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.”
Jeremiah 7:8
“But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless.”
Colossians 3:9
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.”
Ephesians 4:25
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
Zechariah 8:16
“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts.”
Isaiah 59:14
“So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter.”
Proverbs 10:18
“Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.”
The Consequences of Dishonesty
Proverbs 21:6
“A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.”
Psalm 101:7
“No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.”
Numbers 23:19
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”
1 Peter 3:10
“For whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil, and their lips from deceitful speech.”
Proverbs 28:13
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”
Hosea 4:2
“There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.”
Luke 12:3
“What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”
Revelation 21:8
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Proverbs 13:5
“The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.”
John 8:44
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Living Truthfully
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
James 5:12
“Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear— not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Otherwise you will be condemned.”
Psalm 15:2
“Whoever walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart.”
Proverbs 24:26
“An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”
Acts 24:16
“So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”
2 Corinthians 8:21
“For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.”
Proverbs 6:30-31
“People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving. Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it cost him all the wealth of his house.”
Romans 12:2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Matthew 5:37
“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
1 John 3:18
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
God’s Call for Honesty
Proverbs 11:1
“The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.”
Malachi 3:10
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
Deuteronomy 25:15
“You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1
“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.”
2 Timothy 2:15
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
Proverbs 30:8-9
“Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Psalm 119:163
“I hate and detest all falsehood but I love your law.”
Matthew 7:15
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”
Colossians 3:10
“And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Proverbs 20:17
“Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.”
God’s Promises of Truth and Justice
Psalms 146:7
“He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free.”
Isaiah 30:18
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!”
Psalm 37:5
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.”
2 Samuel 22:31
“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”
Proverbs 2:8
“For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”
Isaiah 61:8
“For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.”
Psalms 19:9
“The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.”
Micah 6:8
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Ezekiel 18:30
“Therefore I will judge you, each one according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses so sin will not be your downfall.”
Romans 3:23-24
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Final Thoughts
Dishonesty can lead us away from the path of righteousness. In the Bible, we see clear teachings that remind us of the importance of truth. Each verse encourages us to value honesty and the blessings that come with living a truthful life.
We have a choice to either embrace truth or fall into the trap of deceit. When we choose honesty, we reflect God’s character and bear witness to His light in our lives. Let’s commit to practicing truthfulness in our daily interactions.
With this in mind, let’s continue to explore how scripture provides guidance in various aspects of our lives. If you’re interested in learning more, check out more topics about different biblical principles and life lessons at Christian Bible Info.