Ver. 28. A lyingtongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it , etc.] That is, a man of a lyingtongue, that is given to lying, hates those that are hurt and crushed by his lies; the reason why he hurts them with his lies is because he hates them; and, having hurt them, he hates them, being made his enemies, and from whom he may expect and be in fear of revenge: moreover, he hates those that are troubled at and disturbed with his lies; or the “contrite” and humble men: or those who “smite” or “strike” him, as some render the word, actively; that is, reprove him, and bring him to shame for lying. The words are by some translated, a “contrite” person, or everyone of “the contrite ones, hateth a lying tongue” f739 ; such as are of a broken and of a contrite spirit, and that tremble at the word of God, or are hurt by lies, these abhor a liar. The Targum is, “a lyingtongue bates the ways of truth;” and the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it, “a lyingtonguehate truth”; and so the Vulgate Latin version, “a lyingtongueloves not truth”; for nothing is more contrary to a lie than truth; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin ; both to itself and to the persons flattered by it: or, “makes an impulse” f740 ; a pushing, a driving away; it drives away such as cannot bear its flatteries: and pushes on such that are taken with it, both into sin and into ruin.
