We all lie sometimes- to other people, to God, and even to ourselves. However, even though a little white lie might seem harmless, it has the potential to ripple and result in severe consequences, and what’s more, God hates it when we lie.
Throughout the Bible, we are reminded time and again that God cannot withstand lies and deception. He disapproves of people who tell lies and those who use dishonest means to get their way and He punishes them.
Let’s take a look at 50 Bible verses on deception that can help us understand just how treacherous this vice is. In addition to advising us not to lie, these verses also warn us to be alert so as to avoid being deceived by the devil and evil people around us.
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List of 50 Bible Verses on Deception
Proverbs 12:22
“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
Ephesians 4:25
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
Colossians 3:9
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.”
Proverbs 6:16-19
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
Psalm 101:7
“No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.”
Proverbs 11:18
“A wicked person earns deceptive wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.”
James 1:26
“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”
Proverbs 12:5
“The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.”
Ephesians 5:6
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”
Proverbs 14:5
“An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.”
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Galatians 6:3
“If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.”
Proverbs 26:18-19
“Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death is one who deceives their neighbor and says, ‘I was only joking!'”
Jeremiah 9:6
“You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the Lord.
Hosea 12:7
“The merchant uses dishonest scales and loves to defraud.”
Proverbs 19:9
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.”
Luke 21:8
“He replied: ‘Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.'”
1 Corinthians 3:18
“Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become ‘fools’ so that you may become wise.”
Proverbs 12:20
“Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.”
Psalm 119:118
“You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing.”
Romans 3:13
“Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips.”
Proverbs 24:28
“Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—would you use your lips to mislead?”
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Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.”
Proverbs 11:19
“Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.”
Colossians 2:8
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
Proverbs 12:17
“An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.”
Psalm 55:21
“His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.”
Proverbs 26:28
“A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”
Psalm 5:6
“You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful people the Lord abhors.”
Proverbs 26:24-26
“Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”
1 Peter 3:10
“For, Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.”
Psalm 120:2
“Save me, Lord, from lying lips and from deceitful tongues.”
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Proverbs 10:18
“Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.”
Ephesians 4:15
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Romans 16:17-18
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.”
Psalm 38:12
“Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie.”
Proverbs 20:17
“Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.”
Psalm 58:3
“Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.”
1 John 1:8
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
Psalm 62:4
“Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place; they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.”
Isaiah 44:20
“Such a person feeds on ashes; a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, ‘Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?'”
Proverbs 10:9
“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”
Psalm 109:2
“For wicked and deceitful mouths open against me— they speak against me with lying tongues.”
Ephesians 4:31
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
Proverbs 19:22
“What a person desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar.”
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Psalm 52:2-4
“You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue!”
Proverbs 14:8
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.”
Psalm 120:3-4
“What will he do to you, and what more besides, you deceitful tongue? He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows, with burning coals of the broom bush.”
Proverbs 20:23
“The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.”
Psalm 34:13
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
Proverbs 6:12-15
“A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict. Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.”