Question 112

Q. What is required in the ninth commandment?
A. That I bear false witness against no man,

nor falsify any man’s words;

that I be no backbiter, nor slanderer;

that I do not judge, nor join in condemning any man rashly or unheard;

but that I avoid all sorts of lies and deceit as the proper works of the devil,

unless I would bring down upon me the heavy wrath of God;

likewise, that in judgment and all other dealings I love the truth,

speak it uprightly,

and confess it;

also that I defend and promote,

as much as I am able,

the honor and good character of my neighbor.

Footnotes

• Prov. 19:5, 9. Prov. 21:28
• Psa. 15:3
• Rom. 1:29, 30
• Mat. 7:1ff. Luke 6:37
• Lev. 19:11
• Prov. 12:22. Prov. 13:5
• 1 Cor. 13:6. Eph. 4:25
• 1 Pet. 4:8