What Does the Bible Say About Dishonesty?
Here are 11 Bible verses about dishonesty, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
BSBThere are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
- #2Proverbs 20:17
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
BSBFood gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
- #3Colossians 3:9-10
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
BSBDo not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
- #4Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
BSBThe integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them.
- #5Exodus 20:16
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
BSBYou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- #6Luke 16:10-12
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
BSBWhoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches? And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own?
- #7Luke 16:10
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
BSBWhoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
- #8Proverbs 16:28
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
BSBA perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
- #9Proverbs 11:1
A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.
BSBDishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.
- #10Proverbs 20:23
Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
BSBUnequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
- #11Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.
BSBLying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).