Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Be not a witness against a neighbor without just cause, and do not deceive with the lips. The same prohibition forbids false or groundless testimony and deceptive speech. It belongs among practical counsels on duties owed to other people and the virtues required in everyday life.
To testify without cause is to give testimony that is false or groundless. The warning is against evil speech and guile, and it requires speech that is truthful and guarded against deceit. In practice this means not giving information against companions and holding back unkind speech. Keeping the command in mind checks the temptation to inform, and keeping it together with not judging and not speaking evil is right conduct.
The prohibition reaches beyond false statements to the spreading of true but discreditable facts or private history when there is no need to mention them. Truth is to be spoken with love, and loving silence is often its counterpart. When facts must be mentioned, they are to be spoken kindly rather than used to shame or undermine another person.
Be not a witness against a neighbor without just cause, and do not deceive with the lips. The same prohibition forbids false or groundless testimony and deceptive speech. It belongs among practical counsels on duties owed to other people and the virtues required in everyday life.
To testify without cause is to give testimony that is false or groundless. The warning is against evil speech and guile, and it requires speech that is truthful and guarded against deceit. In practice this means not giving information against companions and holding back unkind speech. Keeping the command in mind checks the temptation to inform, and keeping it together with not judging and not speaking evil is right conduct.
The prohibition reaches beyond false statements to the spreading of true but discreditable facts or private history when there is no need to mention them. Truth is to be spoken with love, and loving silence is often its counterpart. When facts must be mentioned, they are to be spoken kindly rather than used to shame or undermine another person.