Sir Walter Scott was a Scottish author of novels, plays, and poems. In 1808 he wrote the poem “Marmion: A tale of Flodden Field.” In it he cleverly and skillfully pointed out the risk of telling falsehoods  with the couplet:

“Oh what a tangled web we weave/When first we practice to deceive.”

Just as with all the other interpersonal directives—how we treat others—in our “Lighthouse Lamps” snippet blog series, the more the instruction is ignored, the more the conscience is dulled. Eventually we may be lying to ourselves. Sometimes we forget what the original lie was and then become entangled in our own mental fabrications.

See what the ninth of the Bible’s Ten Commandments has to say about lying in the translations below.  If we will let it, this Lighthouse Lamp can enlighten the path of our daily lives and help us reach our goals. View it below as it has been translated into English, French, Spanish, and German.  And also listen to it in the Google Translation app or other app of your choice. Could following this instruction improve your life?

English—You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16 NIV (Holy Bible New International Version)

Français—Tu ne prononceras pas de faux témoignage contre ton prochain. Exode 20.16 NFC  (La Sainte Bible Nouvelle Français Courant)

Español—No digas mentiras en perjuicio de tu prójimo. Éxodo 20.16 DHH94 (La Santa Biblia Dios Habla Hoy 1994)

Deutsch—Sag nichts Unwahres über deinen Mitmenschen! 2. Mose/Exodus 20,16 HFA (Die Bibel, Hoffnung Für Alle)

Deutsch—Du sollst kein falsches Zeugnis reden wieder deinen Nächsten. 2. Mose/Exodus 20,16 DELUT (Lutherbibel 1912)

Encouragement and Instruction from God’s Holy Word
Connie Carlisle Polley, 2021
ConnieCarlislePolley.com
NonnyDay.com

View all blog posts in this series–10 Lighthouse Lamps

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