Proverbs 24:28 - Exposition

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause ( chinnam ) ; gratuitously ( Proverbs 3:30 ; Proverbs 23:29 ; Proverbs 26:2 ), when you are not obliged in the performance of a plain duty. Persons are not to put themselves forward to give testimony to a neighbour's discredit, either officiously as busybodies, or maliciously as slanderers. The maxim is expressed in general terms and is not to be confined to one category, as the Syriac and Septuagint render, "Be not a false witness against thy fellow citizen." And deceive not with thy lips. The Hebrew is really interrogative, "And wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?" ( Psalms 78:36 ). The deceit is not so much intentional falsehood as misrepresentation arising from haste and inconsiderateness consequent on this unnecessary eagerness to push forward testimony unsought. Septuagint, "Neither exaggerate ( πλατύνου ) with thy lips."