Proverbs 19:28-29 (ESV)
28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29 Condemnation is ready for scoffers,
and beating for the backs of fools.
A worthless witness does more than tell a lie. She mocks justice itself. When asked to tell the truth, rather than using her knowledge to establish what happened, she twists it for her own advantage. Whether motivated by a bribe, self-protection, or malice, she is willing to sacrifice what is right if it serves her own purposes. She cares more about getting what she wants than seeing justice done.
The next line exposes the heart behind her actions. “The mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.” Just as a hungry person eagerly consumes a meal, the wicked eagerly feeds on evil. Her speech reveals what she truly loves. Instead of delighting in truth, she delights in sin.
Although such people may appear to prosper for a time, judgment is certain. Punishment is already prepared for those who persist in scoffing at God’s wisdom. Those who repeatedly reject what is right should never mistake his patience for approval. The Lord’s justice may seem delayed, but it is never absent.
Most of us will never be called to testify in a courtroom, yet every day we face opportunities to either uphold or distort the truth. We exaggerate stories, repeat information we have not verified, assume the worst about another person’s motives, or quietly bend the truth to protect ourselves. Every word is an opportunity either to honor the God of truth or to dishonor him.
Before you speak today, ask yourself whether your words promote truth or merely serve your own interests. The woman who fears the Lord does not use her mouth to spread what is false or destructive. She loves truth because she loves the God of truth. Even when honesty is costly, she would rather suffer for doing what is right than stand guilty before the righteous Judge.