Proverbs 13:5

5 A righteous man hates an unjust word: but an ungodly man is ashamed, and will have no confidence.

Proverbs 13:5 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 13:5

A righteous [man] hateth lying
Or, "a word of falsehood" {y}; as being contrary to honour, truth, and conscience. He hates it in himself and others; he hates all sorts of lies, lies in common conversation, religious lies, doctrinal ones, false doctrines, lies spoken in hypocrisy; such as the followers of antichrist spread, being given up unto them that they might be damned, ( 1 Timothy 4:2 ) ( 2 Thessalonians 2:11 2 Thessalonians 2:12 ) ; these are an abomination to God and all good men, ( Revelation 21:27 ) ; but a wicked [man] is loathsome, and cometh to shame;
or, "causes" or "spreads a stink" F26: all wicked men are loathsome and abominable, being very corrupt in principle and practice; all over defiled with sin, and covered with wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores, from the crown of the head to the sole of the feet; and especially liars, who are often brought to shame and confusion in this life, and will hereafter come to everlasting shame and contempt. Or, "makes himself to stink" F1; in the nostrils of all good men, and so brought to shame: or "digs"; a metaphor, as Cartwright thinks, from those that dig in the earth, where such as are covered with shame would gladly put their heads.


FOOTNOTES:

F25 (rqv rbd) "verbum falsitatis", Montanus, Michaelis; "verbum fuci", Schulteus.
F26 (vyaby) "foetere facit", Vatablus, Mercerus; "foetere faciet", Montanus; "foetere fecit foetorem", Gussetius, p. 114. "foetorem spargit", Schultens.
F1 "Se ipse foetere facit", Coccei Lexic. col. 77. "foetidum se reddit", Piscator.

Proverbs 13:5 In-Context

3 He that keeps his own mouth keeps his own life: but he that is hasty with his lips shall bring terror upon himself.
4 Every slothful man desires, but the hands of the active are diligent.
5 A righteous man hates an unjust word: but an ungodly man is ashamed, and will have no confidence.
7 There are who, having nothing, enrich themselves: and there are who bring themselves down in much wealth.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. See Appendix for Alexandrine text shown as: “Righteousness preserves the simple in the way, but sin makes worthless the ungodly.”

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.