19:5

Notice the parallel parts that are almost identical in meaning:

5a
A false witness will not go unpunished,

5b and one who utters lies will not escape.

The context of this proverb is a court or other legal setting. Both lines are a warning that a witness who tells lies will certainly be punished.

19:5a–b

A false witness…one who utters lies: The first of these parallel phrases refers to a witness who tells lies when he testifies in court. The second phrase is literally “he who breathes lies.” By itself, it could refer to anyone who tells lies. But here, the parallel phrase and the legal context indicate that this phrase also refers to a witness who tells lies in court. Some other ways to translate these parallel phrases are:

A false witness…he who testifies lies (Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures)
-or-
A false witness…the perjurer (Revised English Bible)
-or-
A witness who lies…liars (New Century Version)

will not go unpunished…will not escape: Both of these phrases indicate that the lying witness will not be acquitted of the crime of perjury. They will not avoid punishment. Another way to translate these parallel phrases is:

will not escape punishment…will not go free (Revised English Bible)

In some languages, it may be more natural to use positive statements rather than negative ones. For example:

will be condemned…will surely be punished

General Comment on 19:5a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder some of the parallel parts. For example:

If you tell lies in court, you will be punished—there will be no escape. (Good News Translation)

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