“A truthful witness saves lives”: This saying is similar to verse 5. See also 6.19; 19.5, 9; and 21.28. “A truthful witness”, that is, a trial witness who reports the truth about a falsely accused person, may save the accused from suffering or being put to death. Good News Translation offers a model translation of this line. Contemporary English Version says “An honest witness can save your life.” We may also say, for example, “If you tell the truth in court, you can save somebody’s life.”

“But one who utters lies is a betrayer”: This person contrasts with the “truthful witness” in line 1. “Utters lies” is the same as “breathes out lies” in verse 5. “Is a betrayer” is literally “is deceit.” Refer to 12.5 where Revised Standard Version uses “treacherous.” To betray means to deliver someone to an enemy or to desert someone in a time of need. In this saying the liar betrays the falsely accused by not speaking the truth before the judge or, as Contemporary English Version says, “but liars can’t be trusted.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .