The Bible emphasizes that honesty and truthfulness are fundamental to a righteous life, advocating for integrity in speech and actions as pleasing to God. These 160 Bible verses about honesty show the importance of truthfulness and sincerity, guiding us in our daily lives. Join us as we discover the scriptural roots that inspire us to lead lives of integrity before God and each other.
Honesty in Love
- 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.”
- Zechariah 8:16 – “These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts.”
- Proverbs 12:22 – “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
- Colossians 3:9 – “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices.”
- 2 Corinthians 8:21 – “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.”
- Proverbs 8:7 – “My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.”
- John 8:32 – “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
- Proverbs 24:26 – “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”
- Leviticus 19:11 – “Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another.”
- 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.'”
Honesty in Business
- Proverbs 11:1 – “The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.”
- Leviticus 19:35-36 – “Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin.”
- Deuteronomy 25:15 – “You must have accurate and honest weights and measures, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
- Proverbs 16:11 – “Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.”
- Micah 6:11 – “Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights?”
- Proverbs 20:23 – “The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.”
- Amos 8:5 – “Saying, ‘When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?’—skimping on the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales.”
- Proverbs 14:5 – “An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.”
- Ezekiel 45:10 – “You are to use accurate scales, an accurate ephah and an accurate bath.”
- Proverbs 22:1 – “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
Honesty through Integrity
- Proverbs 10:9 – “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.”
- Proverbs 19:1 – “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.”
- Job 27:5 – I will never admit you are in the right; till I die, I will not deny my integrity.”
- Proverbs 20:7 – “The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!”
- 1 Kings 9:4 – “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws.”
- Proverbs 11:3 – “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”
- Psalm 25:21 – “May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, LORD, is in you.”
- Psalm 26:1 – “Vindicate me, LORD, for I have led a blameless life; I have trusted in the LORD and have not faltered.”
- Proverbs 2:7 – “He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.”
- Psalm 41:12 – “Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.”
The Blessings of Honesty
- Proverbs 28:20 – “A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”
- Psalm 24:3-4 – “Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”
- Proverbs 22:4 – “Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.”
- Luke 16:10 – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
- Psalm 15:1-2 – “LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain? The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart.”
- Proverbs 12:19 – “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:2 – “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”
- Psalm 112:5 – “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.”
- Proverbs 14:22 – “Do not those who plot evil go astray? But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.”
- 3 John 1:3 – “It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.”
Honesty in Relationships
- Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
- 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.”
- 1 John 3:18 – “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
- Proverbs 27:6 – “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
- James 5:16 – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
- Proverbs 25:9 – “Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret.”
- Ephesians 4:2-3 – “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
- Proverbs 15:22 – “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.”
- Colossians 3:13 – “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
- 1 Peter 4:8 – “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
The Consequences of Dishonesty
- Proverbs 21:6 – “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.”
- Luke 8:17 – “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”
- Proverbs 10:2 – “Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.”
- Proverbs 19:9 – “A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.”
- Ecclesiastes 12:14 – “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
- Proverbs 26:28 – “A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”
- Matthew 12:36 – “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.”
- Proverbs 13:5 – “The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked make themselves a stench and bring shame on themselves.”
- Hosea 10:13 – “But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception. Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors.”
- Galatians 6:7 – “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
Wisdom and Honesty
- Proverbs 3:3-4 – “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
- Proverbs 4:25-27 – “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”
- James 3:13 – “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”
- Proverbs 13:20 – “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
- Proverbs 15:31 – “Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:12 – “For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.”
- Proverbs 2:6-7 – “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those walking in integrity.”
- Colossians 4:6 – “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
- Proverbs 18:15 – “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”
- James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
The Reward of Honesty
- Proverbs 11:18 – “The wicked earn deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.”
- Proverbs 17:7 – “Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool— how much worse lying lips to a ruler!”
- Psalm 19:9: “The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous.”
- Hebrews 13:18 – “Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.”
- Proverbs 21:21 – “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor.”
- 2 Timothy 2:22 – “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
- Psalm 34:15 – “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.”
- Proverbs 12:28 – “In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.”
- 1 Timothy 6:6 – “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
- Psalm 37:37 – “Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.”
Honesty as a Reflection of God’s Character
- Psalm 33:4 – “For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.”
- Deuteronomy 32:4 – “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”
- Psalm 117:2 – “For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.”
- Hebrews 6:18 – “God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.”
- Titus 1:2 – “In the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.”
- Psalm 89:14 – “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.”
- Numbers 23:19 – “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”
- 2 Timothy 2:13 – “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
- Psalm 92:2 – “To declare your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.”
- 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Encouragement to Live with Honesty
- Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
- 1 Peter 2:12 – “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”
- Proverbs 16:13 – “Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.”
- Proverbs 3:27-28 – “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’—when you already have it with you.”
- Ephesians 5:9 – “(For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)”
- Proverbs 21:28 – “A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully.”
- Romans 12:17 – “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 – “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
- Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
- Colossians 3:9-10 – “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Honesty in Leadership
- Proverbs 29:14 – “If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever.”
- Titus 1:7 – “Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.”
- 1 Timothy 3:2 – “Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.”
- Deuteronomy 16:19-20 – “Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
- Proverbs 20:28 – “Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.”
- 2 Samuel 23:3 – “The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God.'”
- Exodus 18:21 – “But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.”
- Proverbs 31:9 – “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
- Jeremiah 22:3 – “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.'”
- Psalm 72:1-2 – “Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.”
Transparency, Honesty, and Openness
- 2 Corinthians 6:6-7 – “In purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left.”
- Ephesians 6:14 – “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.”
- Luke 12:2-3 – “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”
- 1 John 2:21 – “I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.”
- Psalm 51:6 – “Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.”
- Proverbs 12:17 – “An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.”
- John 3:20-21 – “Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
- 1 Timothy 5:24-25 – “The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. Similarly, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.”
- Psalm 90:8 – “You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.”
- Proverbs 11:13 – “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”
The Importance of Honesty in Work
- Ephesians 4:28 – “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”
- 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 – “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: ‘The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.’ We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.”
- Proverbs 13:11 – “Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
- Colossians 3:23-24 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
- Proverbs 14:23 – “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
- 1 Corinthians 4:12 – “We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it.”
- Titus 3:14 – “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”
- Proverbs 12:11 – “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 – “And to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
- Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.”
The Virtue of Patience and Honesty
- James 5:7-8 – “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
- Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
- Proverbs 15:18 – “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”
- Ecclesiastes 7:8 – “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”
- Proverbs 25:15 – “Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.”
- Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
- Colossians 1:11-12 – “Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.”
- 1 Timothy 1:16 – “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”
- 2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
- Hebrews 6:12 – “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.”
Faithfulness in Stewardship and Honesty
- Luke 16:10-12 – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?”
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 – “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
- Matthew 25:21 – “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'”
- Luke 19:17 – “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'”
- 1 Peter 4:10 – “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
- Psalm 34:13 – “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
- Proverbs 23:23 – “Buy the truth and do not sell it—wisdom, instruction and insight as well.”
- Matthew 24:45-46 – “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.”
- Proverbs 14:25 – “A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.”
Honesty and the Heart
- Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
- Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
- Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
- Jeremiah 17:9-10 – “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
- Psalm 15:2 – “The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart.”
- Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
- 1 Samuel 16:7 – “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'”
- Matthew 6:21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- Psalm 119:11 – “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
- Proverbs 21:2 – “A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.”
Conclusion
As we reflect on these 160 Bible verses about honesty, let’s be inspired to live truthfully, embracing honesty as a reflection of the integrity and love found in Scripture. May this journey deepen our commitment to walk in truth in all aspects of life, guided by God’s wisdom.