Proverbs 12:17 (NASBStr)
He who speaks truth tells what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
Proverbs 12:17 (ESV)
Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.
When Eve was in the garden, Satan came to her in the form of the serpent. He quoted to her portions of God's Word that were just enough to make her think he was telling her the truth. However, he misquoted God's Word enough to lead her astray and cause her and her husband, Adam, to sin. He did it in a such a way that it brought about the total depravity of mankind. Satan simply changed a few words to make it sound like truth. But it wasn't. Satan could not speak the truth because he is the father of lies. Note what Jesus said about Satan when addressing the Pharisees (who were also twisting God's Word for their own gain):
John 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
A false witness has falsehood in his/her heart. One who speaks truth must have truth in his/her heart. That is the only way we can utter truth. We have to have the One who is truth in our hearts (John 14:6). The Hebrew word in the above proverb for "speaks" can be translated "breath." What Solomon is telling us is that when we are full of truth we tell what is right, no matter what we are speaking of or about. But, someone who has falsehood in their heart can only deceive others. Truth must be in us for it to come out of us. So, speaking the truth is first about receiving the truth. As the Truth reigns in us we can breathe the truth and others can be assured we are telling what is right.
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