12:19

Notice the parallel parts that contrast in meaning:

19a
Truthful lips endure forever,

19b but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

12:19a–b

Truthful lips…a lying tongue: These phrases are figures of speech (metonymy). They represent the truthful or lying words produced by the lips and tongue.

endure forever…lasts only a moment: The truth is permanently reliable or valid. No matter how much time passes, it continues to be true. By contrast, people soon find out that a lie is not true, and then they stop believing it.

Some ways to translate this verse are:

Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed. (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
Truth will continue forever, but lies are only for a moment. (New Century Version)

General Comment on 12:19a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the lines so the positive statement comes last. For example:

A lie has a short life, but truth lives on forever. (Good News Translation)

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