Proverbs 13:5 - Exposition

Lying ; Vulgate, verbum mendax ; Septuagint, λόγον ἄδικον ; literally, a word of falsehood. But debar, "word," is used, like ῥῆμα in Hellenistic Greek, in a general sense for "thing," i.e. the subject of speech. So here it is not only verbal lying that is meant, but every kind of deceit and guile. This naturally betrays itself by the speech, according to the proverb, "Show me a liar, and I will show you a thief." A wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame. The clause is variously translated. Vulgate, confundit et confundetur, "causes shame to others and to himself." Septuagint, "is put to shame, and shall not have licence of tongue ( παῤῥησίαν )." The Revised Version margin, "causeth shame and bringeth reproach." Delitzsch, "brings into bad odour ( Genesis 34:30 ) and causes shame." Hitzig, "behaveth injuriously and shamefully." The antithesis is best brought out by the rendering that marks the effect of the wicked man's "lying;" "He brings disgrace upon others (who have trusted him or have been associated with him) and causes shame."