843 verses about Honesty

Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”

For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is on all those who seek him, for good; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him.”

Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, “You exact usury, everyone of his brother.” I held a great assembly against them.

Then they said, “We will restore them, and will require nothing of them. We will do so, even as you say.” Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise.

Also I shook out my lap, and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even be he shaken out, and emptied like this.” All the assembly said, “Amen,” and praised Yahweh. The people did according to this promise.

Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.

Then I sent to him, saying, “There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own heart.”

These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore were they deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood.

I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.

This thing became known to Mordecai, who informed Esther the queen; and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.

When this matter was investigated, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the book of the chronicles in the king’s presence.

Mordecai told him of all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.

It was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who were doorkeepers, who had tried to lay hands on the King Ahasuerus.

The king said, “What honor and dignity has been given to Mordecai for this?” Then the king’s servants who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”

My brothers have dealt deceitfully as a brook, as the channel of brooks that pass away;

How forcible are words of uprightness! But your reproof, what does it reprove?

Now therefore be pleased to look at me, for surely I shall not lie to your face.

Is there injustice on my tongue? Can’t my taste discern mischievous things?

But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.

Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?

Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?

He will surely reprove you, if you secretly show partiality.

Your own mouth condemns you, and not I. Yes, your own lips testify against you.

If it is true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.

The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye shall see me.’ He disguises his face.

If it isn’t so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech worth nothing?”

surely my lips shall not speak unrighteousness, neither shall my tongue utter deceit.

Far be it from me that I should justify you. Until I die I will not put away my integrity from me.

Doesn’t he see my ways, and count all my steps?

“If I have walked with falsehood, and my foot has hurried to deceit

(let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know my integrity);

if my step has turned out of the way, if my heart walked after my eyes, if any defilement has stuck to my hands,

if like Adam I have covered my transgressions, by hiding my iniquity in my heart,

oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me! Let the accuser write my indictment!

I would declare to him the number of my steps. as a prince would I go near to him.

Please don’t let me respect any man’s person, neither will I give flattering titles to any man.

For I don’t know how to give flattering titles; or else my Maker would soon take me away.

My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart. That which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.

If you can, answer me. Set your words in order before me, and stand up.

Notwithstanding my right I am considered a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without disobedience.’

You will destroy those who speak lies. Yahweh abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

Yahweh, my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands,

Help, Yahweh; for the godly man ceases. For the faithful fail from among the children of men.

Everyone lies to his neighbor. They speak with flattering lips, and with a double heart.

May Yahweh cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts,

He who walks blamelessly does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart;

He who doesn’t slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor casts slurs against his fellow man;

In whose eyes a vile man is despised, but who honors those who fear Yahweh; he who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and doesn’t change;

he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.

Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.

Let my sentence come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.

He who has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, and has not sworn deceitfully.

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

I have not sat with deceitful men, neither will I go in with hypocrites.

Don’t draw me away with the wicked, with the workers of iniquity who speak peace with their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.

Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh doesn’t impute iniquity, in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.

Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.

For he flatters himself in his own eyes, too much to detect and hate his sin.

I said, “I will watch my ways, so that I don’t sin with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.”

won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers.

Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

God, you know my foolishness. My sins aren’t hidden from you.

But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.

Once I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.

He who practices deceit won’t dwell within my house. He who speaks falsehood won’t be established before my eyes.

He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all of his possessions;

I said in my haste, “All men are liars.”

Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously!

I will also speak of your statutes before kings, and will not be disappointed.

I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your law.

Deliver my soul, Yahweh, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.

What will be given to you, and what will be done more to you, you deceitful tongue?

Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.

Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips.

whose mouths speak deceit, Whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk in integrity;

Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.

haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood;

a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.

but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.

Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.

For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.

He who walks blamelessly walks surely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.

The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver. The heart of the wicked is of little worth.

A false balance is an abomination to Yahweh, but accurate weights are his delight.

The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.

Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.

The thoughts of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

He who is truthful testifies honestly, but a false witness lies.

Truth’s lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only momentary.