Leviticus 19:11
You shall not steal. You shall not lie, neither shall any man deceive his neighbour.
Open Leviticus 19:11 in the Motif Searcher, word by word across all five texts →Show on the spiral →The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Non facietis furtum. Non mentiemini, nec decipiet unusquisque proximum suum.
- Septuagint (Swete)
- οὐ κλέψετε, οὐ ψεύσεσθε, οὐ συκοφαντήσει ἕκαστος τὸν πλησίον.
- Hebrew (WLC)
- לֹ֖א תִּגְנֹ֑בוּ וְלֹא תְכַחֲשׁ֥וּ וְלֹֽא תְשַׁקְּר֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ בַּעֲמִיתֽוֹ
Haydock's commentary
Lie. "When no injury is done to another, it is a great question whether a lie can ever be justified. The case would perhaps be easily decided, if we considered the commandments alone, and not the examples," of those holy men who seem to have sometimes thought it lawful. (St. Augustine, q. 68) But is it not better to allow that these were under an inculpable mistake, than to defend one fault, because it is not attended with the guilt of another, by hurting others? Even lies of jest and of excuse, are contrary to the gravity and open-dealing of a Christian; and God never speaks of lying without marks of disapprobation. (Haydock)
Hebrew, "you shall not deny, or refuse" to restore, what has been entrusted to you; (Grotius) "nor deal falsely, or extenuate yourselves," pretending that you cannot give alms. (Oleaster)
From Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859, in the transcription made by Todd Easton and kept online by John Paul Wohlschied at johnblood.gitlab.io/haydock.
The Fathers on this verse
The Apostolic Constitutions Book VII. Concerning the Christian Life, and the Eucharist, and the Initiation into Christ, Sec. I. On the Two Ways, The Way of Life and the Way of Death
IV . Thou shall not speak evil; for says He, “Love not to speak evil, lest thou beest taken away.” Nor shalt thou be mindful of injuries; for “the ways of those that remember injuries are unto death.” Thou shall not be double-minded nor double-tongued; for “a man’s own lips are a strong snare to him,” and “a talkative person shall not be prospered upon earth.” Thy words shall not be vain; for “ye shall give an account of every idle word.” Thou shalt not tell lies: for says He, “Thou shalt destroy all those that speak lies.” Thou shalt not be covetous nor rapacious: for says He, “Woe to him that is covetous towards his neighbour with an evil covetousness.”