Proud of lying

By Rhiannonw

Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • 153 reads
4 comments
 

Some tongues take flight from truth –
flattery, two-faced-heart, double-speak – they lie
freely, scornful, ambiguous, unkind and sly:
cheerful, complacent, self-confident
that they will stand,
that none can stay their tongue or hand.

They do not see their emptiness,
their poverty, and thin, fragile happiness,
nor future sure exposure, and distress,
comeuppance

‘Everyone lies to his neighbour; thier flattering lips speak with deception. …’"We will triumph with our tongues; we own our lips – who is our master?”’Psalm 12:2,4

[IP:Flight]

 

Certificate U
Poem
Christian, Biblical
Philosophy
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

It's a habit for some, Rhiannon and it seems to start in their childhood. I wonder if their parents did the same to them but thier emptiness, their poverty and thin fragile happiness, as you say, that's as far as their reward goes. Never realising depth or fullness in life.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Yes, thanks, and not experiencing the freedom of openness with one another, and the freedom from getting into tangles of lies and having things hidden.

And, yes, easily learnt in childhood. I can remember telling one of my children that it was a blessing for them that I had found out that they had lied, and opened out the situation. One child, who had Aspergher, I think, 'learned' to lie a bit older than usual, and how to look confident, but he was glad to be found out really, and to realise its dangers. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by GlosKat on

But what about lying to avoid hurting someone's feelings Rhiannon ? 

What would you do if a friend had had her hair cut at an expensive salon, and asked your opinion - and your honest opinion was that she'd paid a ridiculous amount of money to have her hair cut very badly, the style didn't suit her at all, and the colour looked brassy ?

I'd say 'oh it looks lovely', because in that situation I would feel charity outweighed honesty. 

 

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

there can be complex situations, and little time to think (or pray) for wisdom. I think I'd probably hope that my relationship with a friend would be such that they'd understand my quandry, see it in my face, of my uncertainty, and after all that situation if a very personal one, and if she felt justified and cheered by the cut, that is really her decision.

I think more difficult is in situations like war when asked eg if you were hiding someone from the malicious atttackers. I know that happened to Corrie ten Boom and her sister in wartime Hollannd. Her sister felt unable to lie, but I think found on occaison that she was given a 'way out' to answer and yet not answer, deflect the conversation in some way I think. However, Corrie felt that in that case where the motive was evil, one could answer them according to their way and evil purpose, ie lie firmly.

But this verse was about being happy lying constantly for selfish or careless reasons! Rhiannon