Proverbs 24:28

28 Don't be a witness against your neighbor for no reason -would you use your lips to deceive?

Proverbs 24:28 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 24:28

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause
Unless forced unto it, except there is some urgent reason for it; not upon any trivial account, or in any frivolous matter; never appear forward and eager to bear witness against him, and, whenever obliged to it, be not a false witness, but speak truth, whether thy neighbour be a friend or a foe; and deceive [not] with thy lips;
by bearing a false testimony, the judge, thy neighbour and thyself; for though men may be deceived, God cannot: or, shouldest thou do so, "thou wouldest break" and cut him to pieces "with thy lips" F24; which is the sense of the words according to R. Judah, as Ben Melech relates.


FOOTNOTES:

F24 (Kytpvb tytyphw) "et ne atteras labiis tuis", Vatablus; "et ne comminuas eum labiis tuis", Syriac version.

Proverbs 24:28 In-Context

26 Giving an honest answer is like giving a kiss.
27 Prepare your outside work, and get things ready for yourself on the land; after that, build your house.
28 Don't be a witness against your neighbor for no reason -would you use your lips to deceive?
29 Don't say, "I'll do to him what he did to me, I'll pay him back what his deeds deserve."
30 I passed by the field of the lazy man and the vineyard of the man lacking sense.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.