100 Bible Verses about Dishonesty

Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV / 224 helpful votes

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Proverbs 20:17 ESV / 163 helpful votes

Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

Colossians 3:9-10 ESV / 141 helpful votes

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

Proverbs 11:3 ESV / 106 helpful votes

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

Exodus 20:16 ESV / 97 helpful votes

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Luke 16:10-12 ESV / 95 helpful votes

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?

Luke 16:10 ESV / 82 helpful votes

“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Proverbs 16:28 ESV / 81 helpful votes

A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

Proverbs 11:1 ESV / 63 helpful votes

A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight.

Proverbs 20:23 ESV / 62 helpful votes

Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good.

Proverbs 12:22 ESV / 61 helpful votes

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Romans 12:17-21 ESV / 50 helpful votes

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Colossians 3:9 ESV / 47 helpful votes

Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

Hebrews 13:18 ESV / 46 helpful votes

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things.

Ephesians 4:25 ESV / 36 helpful votes

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Abstain from every form of evil.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Hosea 4:2 ESV / 28 helpful votes

There is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 26 helpful votes

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Philippians 4:8-9 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Psalm 101:7 ESV / 24 helpful votes

No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.

John 8:44 ESV / 22 helpful votes

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Romans 13:1 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Proverbs 20:10 ESV / 21 helpful votes

Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:8 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth each speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he plans an ambush for him.

Proverbs 19:5 ESV / 20 helpful votes

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

Jeremiah 7:8-10 ESV / 19 helpful votes

“Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known, and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?

Hebrews 6:18 ESV / 18 helpful votes

So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

Proverbs 19:9 ESV / 18 helpful votes

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.

Leviticus 19:35 ESV / 18 helpful votes

“You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity.

Revelation 22:15 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Proverbs 12:19 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Revelation 21:27 ESV / 16 helpful votes

But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.

1 Peter 2:1 ESV / 16 helpful votes

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

James 4:1 ESV / 16 helpful votes

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

Titus 1:2 ESV / 16 helpful votes

In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

John 8:43-47 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Proverbs 10:9 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

Leviticus 19:11 ESV / 16 helpful votes

“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:6 ESV / 15 helpful votes

That no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.

Proverbs 24:28 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

Proverbs 19:22 ESV / 15 helpful votes

What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.

Numbers 23:19 ESV / 15 helpful votes

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

James 5:12 ESV / 14 helpful votes

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Matthew 15:18-20 ESV / 14 helpful votes

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Matthew 7:1-5 ESV / 14 helpful votes

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Matthew 23:27-28 ESV / 13 helpful votes

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Matthew 6:1-2 ESV / 13 helpful votes

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

Nahum 3:1 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder— no end to the prey!

Micah 6:11 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?

Proverbs 14:5 ESV / 13 helpful votes

A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

Revelation 21:7-8 ESV / 12 helpful votes

The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV / 12 helpful votes

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Zechariah 5:4 ESV / 12 helpful votes

I will send it out, declares the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.”

Zechariah 5:3 ESV / 12 helpful votes

Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side.

Isaiah 32:7 ESV / 12 helpful votes

As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil; he plans wicked schemes to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right.

Deuteronomy 25:13-16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

“You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. A full and fair weight you shall have, a full and fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the Lord your God.

James 4:11-12 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

John 13:34-35 ESV / 11 helpful votes

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 3:16-17 ESV / 11 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Luke 10:25-28 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

Zephaniah 1:9 ESV / 11 helpful votes

On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master's house with violence and fraud.

Jeremiah 22:13 ESV / 11 helpful votes

“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages,

1 John 1:9 ESV / 10 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:6 ESV / 10 helpful votes

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

James 5:4 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.

James 1:26 ESV / 10 helpful votes

If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

Ephesians 4:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Luke 8:17 ESV / 10 helpful votes

For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

Jeremiah 9:4-6 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity. Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, they refuse to know me, declares the Lord.

Proverbs 17:7 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.

Psalm 37:21 ESV / 10 helpful votes

The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives;

Leviticus 6:2-7 ESV / 10 helpful votes

“If anyone sins and commits a breach of faith against the Lord by deceiving his neighbor in a matter of deposit or security, or through robbery, or if he has oppressed his neighbor or has found something lost and lied about it, swearing falsely—in any of all the things that people do and sin thereby— if he has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt. And he shall bring to the priest as his compensation to the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flock, or its equivalent, for a guilt offering. ...

Hosea 12:7 ESV / 9 helpful votes

A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, he loves to oppress.

Proverbs 13:5 ESV / 9 helpful votes

The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.

Psalm 50:18 ESV / 9 helpful votes

If you see a thief, you are pleased with him, and you keep company with adulterers.

Genesis 3:4 ESV / 9 helpful votes

But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

1 John 2:4 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,

1 Timothy 4:2 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,

Colossians 3:5 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Romans 13:8-10 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

John 12:6 ESV / 8 helpful votes

He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.

Luke 18:9-14 ESV / 8 helpful votes

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ ...

Matthew 7:21-23 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Proverbs 3:28 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

Psalm 119:163 ESV / 8 helpful votes

I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love your law.

Joshua 7:11-26 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.” In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the Lord takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the Lord takes shall come near by households. And the household that the Lord takes shall come near man by man. And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.’” ...

Leviticus 19:36 ESV / 8 helpful votes

You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:25 ESV / 8 helpful votes

When Abraham reproved Abimelech about a well of water that Abimelech's servants had seized,

1 John 4:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

James 2:12-13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

Colossians 3:12-14 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

Romans 14:10-12 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Romans 12:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Acts 17:11 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Matthew 25:31-46 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ...

Matthew 5:33-37 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

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