Scripture Daily

Context No. 2196 of 4322 · Sirach

Context · Reflection

Sirach 20:17-32: in context

17How often, and of how many, will he be laughed to scorn! 18A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue. So the fall of the wicked will come speedily. 19A man without grace is a tale out of season. It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant. 20A parable from a fool’s mouth will be rejected; for he won’t tell it at the proper time. 21There is one who is hindered from sinning through lack. When he rests, he will not be troubled. 22There is one who destroys his soul through bashfulness. By a foolish countenance, he will destroy it. 23There is one who for bashfulness makes promises to his friend; and he makes him his enemy for nothing. 24A lie is an ugly blot on a person. It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant. 25A thief is better than a man who is continually lying, but they both will inherit destruction. 26The destination of a liar is dishonor. His shame is with him continually. 27He who is wise in words will advance himself. And one who is prudent will please great men. 28He who tills his land will raise his harvest high. He who pleases great men will get pardon for iniquity. 29Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and as a muzzle on the mouth, turn away reproofs. 30Wisdom that is hidden, and treasure that is out of sight— what profit is in either of them? 31Better is a man who hides his folly than a man who hides his wisdom.

Among Sirach's sayings about speech comes a sharp warning about lying. A lie, he says, is a foul blot on a person; it will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant. He compares the liar unfavorably even to a thief, and describes the liar's end: the destiny of a liar is dishonor, and his shame is with him continually. A slip on the pavement, he adds, is better than a slip of the tongue. Sirach treats falsehood not as a small fault but as a corrupting stain that shames and dishonors the one who practices it.

Sirach's images convey how seriously falsehood corrupts. A lie is a foul blot, a stain on the person, marring and defiling them. The habitual liar carries shame continually, his dishonor always with him. And a slip of the tongue, Sirach says, is worse than a slip of the foot, for a physical stumble passes, but a false word does lasting harm. Lying is not a minor or excusable fault but a corrupting practice that shames and dishonors the liar and does real damage. Sirach will not treat it lightly. This searches our own truthfulness, for lying is a temptation we all face and often excuse. We tell small lies for convenience, to avoid trouble, to make ourselves look better, to escape consequences, and we can treat these as harmless, as not really counting. Sirach, with Scripture, treats them otherwise: a lie is a foul blot, and the liar's shame is with him continually. Lying lips, the proverb says, are an abomination to the LORD, but those who deal truthfully are his delight. God, who is truth, hates falsehood; and habitual lying, however small the individual lies seem, stains the character and dishonors the person. The value of truthfulness, and the seriousness of falsehood, are greater than we often reckon. This calls us to truthfulness, and to take falsehood seriously. Are we truthful in our speech, or do we lie for convenience, advantage, or self-protection, treating our falsehoods as harmless? Sirach warns that a lie is a foul blot that shames the liar continually. Put away falsehood, Paul says, and let each speak truth with his neighbor. The call is to truthfulness, to be people whose word can be trusted, who do not stain themselves with the foul blot of lying. A slip of the tongue does more lasting harm than a slip of the foot; and the shame of the liar is with him continually. This calls us to guard our speech from falsehood, valuing truthfulness and taking seriously the corrupting stain that lying leaves, that we might be people of truth, whose word is reliable and whose speech does not defile us with the dishonor of falsehood.

Am I truthful in my speech, or do I lie for convenience, advantage, or self-protection, treating my small falsehoods as harmless, and can Sirach's warning that a lie is a foul blot that shames the liar continually, together with the truth that lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, move me to take falsehood seriously and to value truthfulness, guarding my speech from the corrupting stain of lying and becoming a person of truth whose word can be trusted?

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