Scripture
1To learn, you must love discipline;
it is stupid to hate correction.
2The Lord approves of those who are good,
but he condemns those who plan wickedness.
3Wickedness never brings stability,
but the godly have deep roots.
4A worthy wife is a crown for her husband,
but a disgraceful woman is like cancer in his bones.
5The plans of the godly are just;
the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
6The words of the wicked are like a murderous ambush,
but the words of the godly save lives.
7The wicked die and disappear,
but the family of the godly stands firm.
8A sensible person wins admiration,
but a warped mind is despised.
9Better to be an ordinary person with a servant
than to be self-important but have no food.
10The godly care for their animals,
but the wicked are always cruel.
11A hard worker has plenty of food,
but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.
12Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot,
but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit.
13The wicked are trapped by their own words,
but the godly escape such trouble.
14Wise words bring many benefits,
and hard work brings rewards.
15Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to others.
16A fool is quick-tempered,
but a wise person stays calm when insulted.
17An honest witness tells the truth;
a false witness tells lies.
18Some people make cutting remarks,
but the words of the wise bring healing.
19Truthful words stand the test of time,
but lies are soon exposed.
20Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
joy fills hearts that are planning peace!
21No harm comes to the godly,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
22The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in those who tell the truth.
23The wise don’t make a show of their knowledge,
but fools broadcast their foolishness.
24Work hard and become a leader;
be lazy and become a slave.
25Worry weighs a person down;
an encouraging word cheers a person up.
26The godly give good advice to their friends;[1]
the wicked lead them astray.
27Lazy people don’t even cook the game they catch,
but the diligent make use of everything they find.
28The way of the godly leads to life;
that path does not lead to death.
Translation notes (1)
- 12:26 Or The godly are cautious in friendship; or The godly are freed from evil. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
22The Lord detests lying lips,
but he delights in those who tell the truth.
The other day, my sweet, funny nephew Owen was caught red-handed telling a lie. We all knew he had lied because we saw what actually happened. His parents quickly corrected him and told him that they knew that he had lied and that they knew the truth. Owen needed to be corrected because he needs to learn, even at a young age, that people of character do not intentionally and habitually lie. He needed to learn that character means telling the truth and being trustworthy with your words. The truth is, our words reveal our character. If we are known as people who do not tell the truth, then ultimately our character is questioned, and even discredited.
Scripture teaches us the importance of being a person who speaks the truth with their words, having consistent character. “The Lord detests lying lips," Proverbs 12:22 teaches us, “but He delights in those who tell the truth” (verse 22). Clearly, God takes telling the truth very seriously, so much so that He detests lying. Lying discredits our character. Rather than having a positive reputation, it leads us to have a reputation for being someone untruthful and untrustworthy. Additionally, it negatively affects any efforts to share our faith with others.
If we want to teach children to be honest, we must model truthfulness. While lying might be something we may not take as seriously as other sinful actions, it is extremely serious. It is so serious that God detests even what we would consider to be a “little white lie.” You and I must become people who take their faith so seriously that we strive to be people of character. This includes being of people of character with our words. By our words, we will prove our character and trustworthiness. We may even have an opportunity to share our faith with other people around us because of our character and the way we consistently speak the truth.
Moving Toward Action
Take your time reading Proverbs 12:1-28 from the “Going Deeper” section. As you read, highlight every verse that mentions speaking the truth and being trustworthy with your words. When you have highlighted every related verse in this chapter, write each of these verses down in a notebook and journal and make a list of at least three timeless truths that these verses teach about the importance of speaking with truth and character.
Going Deeper
Read Proverbs 12:1-28 (NLT)
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