Zechariah 8:16

16 And now here's what I want you to do: Tell the truth, the whole truth, when you speak. Do the right thing by one another, both personally and in your courts.

Zechariah 8:16 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 8:16

These [are] the things that ye shall do
Which were duties incumbent on them, and which it became them to perform, under a sense of the favours bestowed on them, to show their gratitude to God, and that they might glorify him: Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour;
not using deceit, prevarication, and lying, ( Ephesians 4:25 ) and it becomes every man under the Gospel dispensation, according to the gift he has received, to speak, publish, and declare the truth of the Gospel, to the edification of others: execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates;
that is, execute true judgment, as in ( Zechariah 7:9 ) do justice between man and man, without respect of persons; the issue of which will be peace between the contending parties: and this was to be done in their "gates", because there their courts of judicature were kept.

Zechariah 8:16 In-Context

14 A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies:
15 at this time I've decided to bless Jerusalem and the country of Judah. Don't be afraid.
16 And now here's what I want you to do: Tell the truth, the whole truth, when you speak. Do the right thing by one another, both personally and in your courts.
17 Don't cook up plans to take unfair advantage of others. Don't do or say what isn't so. I hate all that stuff. Keep your lives simple and honest." Decree of God.
18 Again I received a Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies:
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.